By IW Observer.co.uk
The Isle of Wight Children’s Festival will return this Easter, on April 21-22, with a new, expanded programme based around Newport town centre.
The festival, which began in 2018, had a hiatus due to Covid restrictions, but is coming back with a bang to encourage creativity and inspire young minds. The festival is spreading out to create a ‘fringe’ atmosphere, allowing families can pick and choose which events they’d like to go to. Venues include the Apollo Theatre, St. Thomas’ Square, Independent Arts Creative Hub, IW Youth Trust, Waterstones and the Museum of Island History, along with many other businesses in the town.
The festival is supported by Newport’s High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ), a Historic England scheme working to boost economic growth using the historic environment as a starting point. The event is part of a wider project working to breath new life into Newport town centre.
Many events will be free and do not require booking in advance, including art and performance workshops, featuring artists Adam Gaterell, Teresa Grimaldi, Studio Wren and Vanessa Warry Dance and Malcolm Brushell’s search for The Lost Colour from his Puppet Van. The IW Story Festival will also be bringing story-telling to Waterstones, from local authors, Neal Layton and Jules Marriner, as well as professional story-teller, Sue Bailey.
You can find out what’s already planned, and make bookings for the IW Children’s Festival 2022, at ventnorexchange.co.uk, with more events to be added in the coming weeks.
If you are a Newport-based business and would like to be involved with the Children’s Festival, Ventnor Exchange would like to talk to you. Please email mhairi@ventnorexchange.co.uk.
Press Release