After taking a year’s break due to the pandemic, Wigan Arts Festival is making a come-back with two weeks packed full of events and cultural activities on 30th July – 14th August.

This year, The Old Courts, who have previously organised the festival, have teamed up with several partners including Wigan Council, The Turnpike, WigLe Dance, Leigh Film Society, Spinners Mill and Wigan STEAM to help deliver the cross-borough festival.

Wigan Arts Festival will contain a range of performances, exhibitions and contact points across dance, visual art, music, spoken word and more. The full programme will be announced on 1st July and residents can expect highlights such as: ‘the Den’ a pop up theatre experience by the Royal Exchange at Spinners Mill, sing-a-long films at Leigh Town Hall from as little as £2 a ticket; Bubble art exhibition at Cross Street Arts; ‘Make Good’ workshops at the Turnpike which will see artists working with children to create sustainable eco products; a touring museum installation by Cap and Dove; various live music performances including performances in Leigh Library, Leigh Paris Church and Wigan Town Centre; ‘Romeo and Juliet’ performed in Haigh Hall gardens and many more performances and activities to get the cultural juices flowing.

The Old Courts Artistic Director, Jonny Davenport said: I’m really excited to see the impact that the festival can have and I’d encourage people to seek out familiar favourites but also to experience something different. There will be a vast array to choose from! Collaborating with partners external to The Old Courts has always been something we have valued, and I think it’s a real mark of progress that this way of working is being scaled up.

Wigan Arts Festival feels like another big step in the right direction as it’s using arts and culture to bring people together. We are now seeing sustained and committed collaboration from more and more cultural organisations which is great for the borough and great for the arts.”

Louise Robson, Creative Director of Wigan STEAM said: “We’re really excited that Wigan Arts Festival is taking place again this year. The arts for us are all about building community and giving people a sense of belonging, and we need that now more than ever.”

Paul Costello Chair Leigh Film Society CIO said: “The Wigan Arts Festival is bringing so many different cultural events together for everyone to join in and enjoy. Leigh Film Society is proud to be a part of this celebration that will showcase so many different forms of art and culture.”

Coun Chris Ready, cabinet member for communities and culture at Wigan Council said: “We’re excited to be working with The Old Courts to deliver a vibrant two-week festival of activity across the borough.

“Interactive summer activities that are safe and attractive to people of all ages will be a key draw after a turbulent year and we look forward to seeing our borough thriving again.

“Wigan Arts Festival will also reflect the themes set out within the third year of the cultural manifesto, ‘Health and Happiness’.

“We know that cultural activity can have wholesome benefits to our health and wellbeing and this remains a crucial priority as we support our communities through the transition from pandemic to business as usual.

“There are a lot of digital and face-to-face activities planned with more in the pipeline – the message is very much ‘watch this space’!”

For more information Wigan Arts Festival and for the full programme including ticket information visit: www.wiganarts.com