Click here to see a film of Holloway Arts Festival 2012 on Vimeo
Holloway Arts Festival 2012 was a fun filled 10 days from 1-10 June with live music, dance, film screenings, workshops, comedy, an under 5’s picnic, and a fantastic closing party.
The Big Day Out returned again this year at Whittington Park showcasing local talent in Holloway. The afternoon included a commissioned dance performance from Instantly Theatrical. The Lovebuzz project programmed the music with emerging talent Supernovas and Dirty Nelly, Kainee and young barbican poet Nadia Khomami.
People of all ages got creative with art and craft workshops running throughout the afternoon. Other events included film screenings, a variety of workshops, children’s story telling and creative industry panel discussion Meet the Professionals. The afternoon also included gala screenings from Reel Islington, in partnership with the Czech Cultural Centre, featuring films made with five groups of young people in collaboration with professional filmmakers. In the evening Lois Tucker performed her black comedy and the writer and comedian A. L Kennedy gave a fascinating solo performance.
As part of the Connecting Conversations series the founders of pioneering dance company Ballet Boyz spoke with psychoanalyst Dr Luis Rodríguez de la Sierra, sharing their thoughts on the perception of ballet today at London Metropolitan University.
The Liz Bentley Performance Night was compered by Liz Bentley and featured Rosie Wilby, Senor Al & The JJs and Rob Auton. A ‘How to Archive Your Home Movies‘ talk and workshop was produced in partnership with the London Metropolitan Archives.
Throughout the festival there were also many activities for children to get involved with, such as workshops, storytelling, poetry, and a jubilee picnic at Royal Northern Gardens. Holloway Arts Festival 2012 closed in a celebratory party with performances from the two man pop poetry band Project Adorno and ToeJam n Earl at The Horatia pub.
What audience members said about Holloway Arts Festival 2012
“I really like the local feel - bringing a community together- getting to know talent on your doorstep” Sunday Best
“First time at one of these events with my two grandchildren and they loved it, lots to do for them, great cup of tea and music and lots of fun” Big Day Out
“A chance to meet neighbours, which is not so easy in London” Mayton Street Festival
“Came away feeling enthused about the medium of film and what it means to me, but also how I can use it to document the places I feel a connection to” Archive Home Movies Workshop
“For my kids it has been a really great way of engaging with the arts and increasing their confidence while exploring their creativity” Mayton Street Festival
“I really enjoyed it - I liked the way that she writes and I had expected an analytical writer-ly view of writing. It was far more powerful than that” Performance by A.L Kennedy
“It’s good to promote spoken word artists and bring such events to Platform and raise the profile of this relatively new venue” Sunday Best at Platform
“Fantastic, lots of local creative creations on show for sale, wonderful diverse music, terrific start to half term” Mayton Street Festival