Newark Creates, Newark Town Council and Inspire to host Festival of Creativity
A festival where imagination reigns and creativity knows no bounds is inviting the community to visit various venues across the town centre.
The Festival of Creativity — Newark’s Narnia — is taking place next Saturday (October 4) from 9am to 4pm, and it comes hand in hand with a range of free family-friendly activities.
It is inspired by the charm of Narnia and the warmth of Hygge — a Danish and Norwegian word that describes a cosy, contented mood evoked by comfort and conviviality — and celebrates all things cosy, curious and creative.
From enchanted kitchens and mythical storytelling to whimsical performances and hands-on workshops, every corner of Newark will be alive with inspiration.
The event is part of the Newark Creates cultural programme and has been supported by Newark Heart through the Newark Towns Fund, as well as UK Arts Council.
It is being organised by Newark Creates in partnership with Newark Town Council and Inspire.
From 9am to 4pm, Newark Art Gallery, Kirkgate, will host a drop-in for arts and crafts inspiration, including Shimmer and Shine Bookbench artist Carla Dee.
At Newark Library, on Beaumond Gardens, from 9am to 4pm, people will have a go at handspinning and weaving, join in with the Storybook Emporium — Newark’s Narnia nonsense.
People will also be able to get creative with Lego building and have a go at tying a range of knots with Les Reid of Newark’s Heritage Barge.
Rhubarb Theatre will also be doing fun shows at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm.
From 10am to 4pm, the National Civil War Centre, Appletongate, will host crafts, games and storytelling.
From making a mini-Newark townscape inspired by gingerbread houses and autumnal games to crafting with recycling materials, a healthy eating stall and storytelling around the ‘campfire’ with storyteller Nicky Rafferty
There will also be creative art workshops with bookbench artist Nicola Mills.
The community is being invited into the Newark Town Hall’s Ballroom, on Market Place, to meet the White Witch as they draw and colour their favourite foods and create a lavish banquet.
Sessions are taking place from 11am to 1.30pm and from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
At YMCA Community and Activity Village, Lord Hawke Way, workshops run every hour from 11am to 3pm, will see a Mythical Creature Art Workshop.
People can design, draw and paint their very own Narnian creature to then bring it to life with a backstory.
The YMCA Cafe and Newark Palace Theatre will host the Enchanted Kitchen of Narnia, where from 11am to 3pm, people can drop in to sample Turkish Delight handmade by young people in Newark.
Families can get creative by decorating their own marshmallows or taking part in the Design Your Own Hot Chocolate competition.
Councillor Claire Penny, portfolio holder for Sustainable Economic Growth at Newark and Sherwood District Council said, “We are committed to doing all we can to encourage visitors to our town centres and events form just one part of a much wider combined approach we are taking.
“Events, such as Newark’s Narnia, offer such a unique opportunity for visitors to experience something different.
“They pull in people, who may not be regular visitors to our town centres, to see the wonderful array of independent shops and eateries that we have on offer in the district and our hope is to encourage them to revisit time and time again to help support our local economy.
“I am really looking forward to the event on 4 October and want to encourage as many people as possible to head out into Newark and enjoy something an event of entertainment right on your doorstep for free!”