Fringe Festival 2013 was a mammoth 4 weeks long and more than 1000 people took part! Over 80 University students and staff from every department got involved in Fringe 2013. We worked with more than 30 local organisations and it is this partnership working which makes all the difference.
Fringe 2013 ended with the Fantastic Fringe Finale. The fun began with a community parade at 11am featuring costume, live music and the Blue Girl puppet made by B Arts. The Finale attracted around 500 people, mostly from the local community. A visitor to four Fringe events said, “Congrats on a fantastic Fringe festival….loved the parade!”
The sun shone on the Brazilian drumming, street acrobatics and puppetry activities and the BBQ sold out. The College Rd site was buzzing with face painting, balloon modelling, peace rope making, story-making, Indian dance, rice art, community recipes, computing, henna art and International games led by volunteers.The Film Theatre was crowded for animations made by local children and young people and a family feature film.
Student guides gave regular Degree Show tours to many people who have never set foot on University land before, but live two streets away.
B Arts were our main Festival partner again, running workshops in Shelton and leading the community parade and activities at the Fantastic Fringe Finale.
In 2013 the Amazing Camera Obscura was open for three days attracting more than 300 people including many school and college students and passing visitors. The most common response to it was “wow!”. David Noble’s talk on Friday evening took the camera obscura as its inspiration and attracted 35 people, who found it “both affirming and inspirational!”
Thanks to staff and students from the Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies who donated over 40 home made art postcards for the Anonymous Postcard exhibition and auction. In 40 minutes we raised £170.00 in aid of North Staffs MIND and The Samaritans!
Praise for Fringe 2013 “I thought the atmosphere was fantastic in the university” “Great to see so much diversity, and the community and University colleagues and students all getting involved.” “Real buzz around Stoke and the Uni Quarter. Felt like a good place to be.”