The Thanks have been made, the Bags hand delivered and the process is being discussed. To evaluate the Flaming Skirt Festival meaningfully, it has its own pace. So the construction of the book will take a little longer to achieve than predicted. Hopefully those of you expecting it to drop through your letter box in September will think it's been worth the wait.
We had a fantastic journey of contemporary art for families in NW Leicestershire and Derbyshire. So thank you to everyone who came along, you really made it a fun day of creativity. Keep an eye on the gallery, we'll be adding photographs from Flaming Skirt Festival 2015 soon.
It is only 7 days until the Flaming Skirt Festival kicks off more contemporary art fun in Amber Valley, Derbyshire. Queenie (pictured) will be hosting a pop-up game show, there will be energetic performances from Lindsey Warnes-Carroll, surprise on the bus activities with Sophie Cero, a creative walk with Miles & Dacombe, fashion construction with Charlotte Ashman and much, much more.
Plus, don't forget all participants will be entered into a prize draw to win a limited edition outdoor art kit!
We'd love to see you there, it's a fantastically creative day for all the family. So make sure you don't miss the... bus – for more information click here!
photograph: Trudy Cleaver
Well, the Flaming Skirt Festival contemporary art day in NW Leicestershire was a brilliant experience. We had cafe treats, Queenie's chat, made flaming red paper boats and sailed them in the canal. We lit up the historical dark of the lime kilns, made observations on the bus, devised a special Snibston story, had even more refreshments and discussed the day over coco pops, sugar and jelly babies.
In 10 days time it will be Derbyshire's turn for these Flaming Skirt Festival delights and more. We'd love all the crowdfunding backers to see the reality of the Flaming Skirt Festival. There's still time to book a seat if you haven't already.
And I haven't forgotten your crowdfunding backer rewards. Here is the large THANK YOU that sailed around NW Leicestershire displayed on the bus; it will make another appearance in Derbyshire on June 28th.
Photograph: Trudy Cleaver
With just a couple of days till the first of this year’s two Flaming Skirt Festivals, we’ve got some exciting news about a fantastic Flaming Skirt Festival prize draw!
Drum roll please!
Everyone who jumps on board and comes along to the Flaming Skirt Festival in NW Leicestershire on Sun 7th June, or Derbyshire on Sun 28th June will be entered into a prize draw. All participants will have the chance to win one of these limited edition Outdoor Art Kits, designed and hand made by artists Miles and Dacombe, full of inspiration and creative activities to do when exploring the outdoors. Names will be pulled out of a hat and one person from each walk will win the kit.
So make sure you're there for a great family day out and the chance to win!
Photograph (right) by Jo Dacombe.
This month the Flaming Skirt Festival begins! And it’s bringing contemporary art to Derbyshire and NW Leicestershire. So are you on board?
Flaming Skirt Festival is always an incredibly unique day trip – a family day out, a grown-up play day, a creative adventure travelling around venues in the local area. It’s about having fun and giving people the space to think about the area differently – creatively, inspirationally and excitedly.
Our home here in the heart of the UK has a wonderful industrial heritage, but can now sometimes get overlooked. Flaming Skirt Festival wants to help change that. We’re looking at our locality with fresh eyes to celebrate this great place to live. And we want people who don’t live here to say "YES this is a great place to visit and work".
We’ve found that there are few contemporary arts projects and a limited range of activities for families. So we want this to be the start of something new.
What would you like to see and do here?
Find out more, come along and get the creative wheels in motion!
We're excited to reveal that we've reached our crowdfunding target! So here's a massive thank you for helping us to bring a wonderful contemporary art festival to rural locations in NW Leicestershire and Derbyshire. It will be a fantastic day of art – we look forward to seeing you there.
The countdown is on and we need your support. There’s only one day left to pledge a donation in support of the Flaming Skirt Festival. It’s easy to donate and help us take exciting contemporary art to rural communities in NW Leicestershire and Derbyshire.
There are some wonderful original artist-created rewards for everyone who donates:
So please share this post with your friends, get involved and pledge today here: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/flaming-skirt-festival
This Saturday, Flaming Skirt Festival artists Lindsey Warnes-Carroll and Sally Lemsford will be at Ashby Arts Festival in NW Leicestershire.
The colourful duo (in flaming yellow attire) will be doing a walkabout performance. They may do a tap dance, they may give you this season’s latest sticker accessory! So pop along, say hello, be entertained and book your place on the Flaming Skirt Express – taking you to the Flaming Skirt Festival contemporary arts event in Derbyshire and NW Leicestershire.
Photograph by Lucy Peel.
Fancy an exclusive hand-made Flaming Skirt Festival tote bag, a set of original artist-drawn postcards or workshop day with contemporary artist and qualified teacher Sally Lemsford?
We’ve got some amazing rewards up for grabs on our crowd funding page, so check it out, share with your friends and get involved to help us bring contemporary art to rural communities here: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/flaming-skirt-festival
WOW, WHAT A LOT OF LAUGHS… a taste of the community you might find on the Flaming Skirt Festival bus in June.
Twenty of us from 3 years to 75 years enjoyed a fabulous Flaming Skirt Festival Funding Party. There was even a fantastically yellow auction – what colour-coordinated goodies could be within the gold parcels?
So thanks to Adam, Alfie, Barbara, Bob, Cody, Dave, Emma, Gaynor, Heather, Joanna, Leona, Lindsey, Mavis, Michelle, Nick, Sarah, Tony, Tracey, Ros, Pam and Sally... we made £270! The total is now £954. We are aiming for £2,700 by May 26.
So if you are interested in pledging for an awesomely arty reward visit: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/flaming-skirt-festival
Well, the planning is underway for this year’s contemporary art fest. So keep your eye on this spot for the updates as they unfold. In true fabulous Flaming Skirt Festival fashion, it will be two days of fun and delightful creative surprises at each Flaming Skirt Festival location in NW Leicestershire and Derbyshire.
Experience contemporary art events for the family, in and around your rural community spaces and places: performance, games, puppets, storytelling, creative walking, installations, and interventions.
Take a look at our previous posts to see what we got up to last year.
Every great day finishes with a great story. And artist Lindsey Warnes-Carroll, our animated storyteller, told Shirley’s Stories. She shared her colourful life and then inspired us to make her dreams come true through crafting props (flowers, fishes, medals and more) and putting on a spectacular performance together. Sing-alongs, dancing, acting and so much laughter made Waingroves Community Centre ring with creativity. Take a bow, what a performance everyone!
On your marks, get set, BUILD. Artist Charlotte Ashman challenged the Flaming Skirt Festival goers to engineer and sculpt the tallest, most beautiful sculpture out of newspaper. This chaotic frenzy of fun was called 60 Minute Mayhem and inspired some sculptures to rival the Empire State Building. Then came the serious bit as the sculptures were put through their paces with the ‘Brick Test’. Rewrite the tourist book and put Denby on the map with these beauties.
Next the Flaming Skirt Festival turned up at the Houses of Giggles. Performance artist and self-taught ventriloquist Leah Lovett introduced us to Sock Puppet State. We found out how to create puppets from our socks and make them speak like politicians, without even moving our lips! Politics has never been this much fun. We vote for more art like this.
“Welcome on board” said conductor JP as we began the creative crusade between each venue. Artist Sophie Cullinan was our hostess with the mostess. A fabulous flight pack made sure there was plenty of noise, somewhere to pee and a fabulous flipbook of applause for personal appreciation.
Then on to the poetry. A Creative Washing Line of Thoughts was curated by poet Dave Wood and helped us air our laundry of rhyming revelry.
And your departing words:
“This bus is more fun than just one venue, it’s part of the art.”
Let the games begin! Artist Charlie Hill declared The Flaming Fruit and Veg Show open and really got the creative juices flowing. With beautiful rosettes to play for, it was a delicatessen duel of artistry and fruity skills.
With smiles as wide as bananas, you declared:
“This is so much fun!”
Forget the Great British Bake Off – Pete and Geoff (artists Sally Lemsford and Sally Newham) kicked off the Flaming Skirt Festival2 (2014) with a truly entertaining brew and biscuits. Top rate geezers with some great TIPS for life, they colourfully served up their wonderfully wise words.