Saltwell Park in Gateshead will be an explosion of colour this August bank holiday when ColourFest hits on Sunday 27 from 12-6pm.
As part of Gateshead’s Sculpture Festival, celebrating the 21st anniversary of the borough’s Family Sculpture Day, ColourFest is an event full of sculpture installations, performances, workshops, storytelling and street theatre – all colourful.
Artists will be creating temporary art installations for visitors to explore and interact with. From giant cones to starfruit, Space Cadets will promise to transform visitors to another planet with their inflatable art. Using every colour of the rainbow they will create a huge star shape in the centre of the northern field, with a 35 foot purple starfruit as the centrepiece with tickling tentacles!
Newcastle based Neighbourhood Watch Stilts International will be bringing two performances to ColourFest. Chromorama is an arena spectacle of abstract colour and beautiful movements and The Butterfly Collection is a giant flock of British butterflies. Helter Skelter by Cirque Bijou will feature colourful walkabout street theatre and dance – all on stilts.
Visitors can also listen to stories inspired by colour with Adam Bushnell and enjoy vibrant music from international jazz band Bassa Bassa, with blends of ska, Latin, African and funk.
Four regional artists, Jen Douglas, Paul Moss, Tanya Axford and Janine Goldsworthy, will be creating a temporary artwork for ColourFest, each using a different colour for inspiration. They will be asking people to lend them a hand to create the artwork in just one day.
Children will be entertained with Albert Alchemy’s hilarious Lobster Show and Magic Circus Show throughout the day.
Cllr John McElroy, Cabinet member for Culture at Gateshead Council, said: “Colour Fest is a free event for all the family and a great treat to look forward to for August bank holiday. From a wide range of sculptures installed in the park to an exhibition of photos that capture the spirit of Sculpture Day at nearby Gateshead Council’s Central Library, there are so many different ways to get involved in the celebrations.”
Admission is free and for more details contact Gateshead Council’s Arts Development Team on 0191 433 6927.
The Sculpture Festival is part of NewcastleGateshead’s world-class festivals and events programme.
NewcastleGateshead’s programme of festivals and events is managed by destination marketing agency NewcastleGateshead Initiative and supported by Arts Council England, North East, Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, Northern Rock Foundation, One NorthEast and TyneWear Partnership.