WARRINGTON Arts Festival kicked off its events last Friday, and will finish on Saturday – so, before the colourful installations and unique experiences packed away for next year, I went to see what it was all about.
Nearly 10 years ago, Warrington was named as the worst place in the country for making the most out of its heritage.
But now it's a bustling hub full of arts and culture, bringing the town centre to life.
One way in which it's been revitalised is through the Warrington Arts Festival, which started on Friday, and I went to explore some of the exhibits before it ends this weekend.
I started off my exploration yesterday afternoon by popping into Pyramid Arts Centre where drag queen Dross was preparing to the take to the stage later that night.
An Evening with Dross utilises physical comedy and multimedia to create a fabulous drag cabaret, and has been being developed for a year.
“It’s gone through loads of different iterations, but I think I’ve finally hit the one that feels right,” said Dross.
In 2018, Dross, who is from Warrington, started to explore drag and has found that it’s now a way to feel confident and remove anxiety.
“It’s self-expression for me, it’s a way to get rid of my insecurities and anxieties,” said Dross.
“I’m quite a shy person out of drag, and then when I get in drag it’s freedom to be able to express myself in a way I don’t always feel confident to do.”
I then made my way to Golden Square, where a variety of installations and experiences are open to explore until the festival closes.
On the ground floor, colourful art installation, Blissed Out, uses a range of textures and shapes to recreate the moment in the morning when the sun first bursts through the window.
“Reimagining that fleeting time of the day early before the ret of the world is awake, that peaceful moment as the sun pour through the cracks” Sarah Harris, the artist, explains.
It’s free to explore between 11am to 3.30pm for free, and you’re welcome to stay and enjoy the serene kaleidoscope of colour for as long as you like.
Moving up to the top floor of the multi-storey car park, interactive experience Cloudscapes is tucked away in the Sky Garden, a hidden gem of green space.
Cloudscapes, put on by family run arts company called Gobbledegook Theatre, is a roughly half an hour experience that allows you to sit back and take in the beauty of the world around you.
When you arrive, headphones and sunglasses are handed to each visitor before you make your way to the sea of bean bags laid out on the floor.
Once everybody is comfortable, audio begins to play through the headphones, accompanied by an almost orchestral arrangement of bird sounds and waves as you take a moment to enjoy the wonder of the sky.
“Every time it’s completely different, and each audience is different,” said Lorna Rees, who organises the experience with her family.
“We have been in some amazing locations, but this is easily one of my favourite places we have ever been.
“I have the best time when I meet people and have conversations with the guests.”
If typical English weather and raining, make sure to head over to the Warrington Museum where the magnificent head of Old Billy has returned home.
‘Old Billy’ lived in Warrington more than two centuries ago and reached the grand old age of 62 – nearly three times the lifespan of an average horse.
The Victorian-era taxidermied head typically resides at the Bedford Museum but has been on show at the Warrington Museum since last Friday.
A team of artists called the ‘Bring Back Old Billy Committee’ (BBOBC) successfully brought the legendary horses head home in the hopes to make his story better known locally.
“I’m really proud of what we have achieved as a group,” said Hayley Reid, who led the project.
“Some of the members of the committee, like me, are from where Billy was born and we’ve got family and friends who haven’t even heard of him.
“Given his cultural significance to Warrington as the oldest horse that ever lived that’s so surprising – and sad – because he should continue to be celebrated.”
There’s plenty to explore around Warrington until the festival ends this weekend, and there really is something for everyone.
If you’re wandering around town, keep an eye out for the exhibits and make sure to take a look at the wide variety of performances taking to the stage at Pyramid Arts Centre before the festival concludes for another year.
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