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UNITY Festival '24

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UNITY Festival 2024

A FREE music and arts festival celebrating humanity, nature and social action. This year UNITY Festival took place at Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle Upon Tyne 18, 19 and 20 October and Kirkleatham Museum in Redcar 26 and 27 October. Audiences joined us for a FREE festival of music and arts celebrating community, nature and social action.

UNITY Festival proudly premiered newly commissioned performances celebrating a range of diverse regional and international musicians and performers.

Skimstone Arts’ FREE UNITY Festival 2024, was made in partnership with Great North Museum: Hancock and Kirkleatham Museum Redcar, and presented two weekends of FREE live music, performance, arts, exhibitions, creative workshops and exciting talks, something for everyone.

​The festival, co-created with diverse community groups across the North East, offered a platform for artists and audiences to uncover the often-overlooked aspects of humanity and nature. From hidden voices within our communities to the unseen wonders of the natural world, festivalgoers will embarked on a journey of discovery, connection, and hope. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It has been a great experience meeting and working with diverse artists.

 

This opportunity to develop WUOK in both movement, music and engaging audiences is so fascinating. 

I also like the discussion session with the audience, it is very useful for both the artist and audience to get the chance to speak about the process before staging and after the presentation.

 

The venue is an amazing choice; it brings both the worlds together. Great North Museum, the public and artist. Also easy to access." Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno Artist Feedback 

"I hoped people would be open to having a go, and let go of the concept of needing to be "good" at art to join in. I had some very interesting conversations with audience members and other staff about how adults don't always give themselves this permission and need more encouragement.

 

I've made some great connections at this event and would be keen to collaborate with people I met here."  Sally Anderson Artist Feedback 

 

“UNITY Festival ‘24 at the Great North Museum: Hancock will be a unique opportunity for people to celebrate being together,  express what they want to say about humanity and the natural world, experience specially commissioned performances, exciting talks and also engaging workshops from local artists. There’s something for everyone! Through music, performance, and exhibitions, we aim to inspire ways we can make a difference in our communities and the wider world in this incredible venue.” Claire Webster Saaremets, Artistic Director of Skimstone Arts

 

"We're excited to collaborate with Skimstone Arts on UNITY Festival, a celebration of creativity and inclusivity. The Museum's captivating collections from cultural, natural, and ancient worlds will provide a unique and inspiring backdrop or the festival's diverse programme." Malavika Anderson, Museum Manager at the Great North Museum: Hancock

At UNITY Festival Skimstone Arts encourages audiences to reflect on what they have seen or experienced ​by making a pledge. Take a look at some of the pledges from UNITY Festival '24... 

Watch Highlights From UNITY Festival '24 Great North Museum: Hancock,
filmed and produced by Ako Ismail. 
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Have love

in all you do

Plant a seed

plant hope

Nature is healing 

Unity is

togetherness 

To look after

each other 

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