Wintertide, Hartlepool’s much-loved festival of art, music and community, returns on 24th-26th November with a dazzling collection of outdoor art, parades, installations and performances.
The grassroots festival sees the streets of the town’s historic Headland transformed under this year’s theme of Ignite, illuminating and animating public spaces to ‘see the everyday in a different way’.
Wintertide, funded by Arts Council England, with scale-up funding this year from Tees Valley Combined Authority, has grown organically since its inception in 2014 and in the past, has seen crowds of 15,000 enjoy a programme of art and music that celebrates Hartlepool, its people, places, passions, heritage and folklore.
Curated by directors Rachel Laycock, Emma Wheetman and Vicky Jackson, who all live in the town, the festival engages many local people through its Street Ambassador project that teams artists with residents on the Headland. Seven streets are transformed into temporary exhibition spaces as house windows, facades and gardens become living, breathing artworks.
Two of the streets this year take inspiration from The Gutter Girls, who travelled the coast supporting their fishermen husbands to keep the herring industry alive. Facilitated by Tees Valley Festival Volunteering, one street will feature 800 metres of EL tape knitted jumpers (think Glow Stick knitting) whilst another will resonate to a sound piece made by electronic music pioneers A Man Called Adam along with the residents of the street.
Other highlights this year include a partnership with Durham Lumiere who are loaning three stunning pieces to the Day and Night Art Trail. Internationally renowned artist Alex Rigg is creating a towering willow structure that will be ignited as part of the finale; St Hilda’s Church will once again be illuminated throughout the festival; a packed, genre defying music programme featuring North East artists will take place in venues, pubs and clubs across the Headland and the Fuzzy Bosom Maker’s Market will feature more than 60 stalls inside the town’s historic Borough Hall.
There will be immersive illuminated installations, sound pieces, films, poetry, dance and fire acrobatics.
The re-emergence of the community lantern parade will connect and engage more people than ever with opportunities to get involved across the town. Local parade specialist’s GreenerLavelle and Whippet Up will work with local groups to create props, costumes and choreography for the event.
For further information, head to wintertidefestival.co.uk.
