The Burnley area was set ablaze - by Blaze Arts that is - over the month of July, with all kinds of events laid on at different venues set around various locations in what was billed as the In Focus Festival. The purpose of the festival was to celebrate the creativity and talent of Burnley’s young people, and provide an opportunity to engage with their passions, interests, skills and talents. It was by and large, a very successful happening over the two weeks that captivated over 900 young people through multiple events including art exhibitions, puppetry workshops, dance workshops, open mic events, horror workshop, Samba Drumming sessions (to name a few), presented by an assemblage of 17 professional and gifted artists. In Focus was delivered in partnership with Burnley Local Cultural Education Partnership, involving 20 organisations from across Burnley. 

The festival was organised by a group of local young people, the Blaze Arts young producers: Tierney, Jennah and Holly, with Producer Reuben, under the direction of Caroline Kennedy, who inspired them to explore the possibilities and championed their ideas. When the team first came together, it was quite a daunting task to start planning such a massive happening, especially when they did know each other’s experiences, strengths, skills and limitations. They initially felt like strangers in those early meetings, but it didn’t take long for them to discover their shared passions and hopes of seeing young people realise their potential and creative talents. 

Holly said, ‘At first it didn’t feel like a team until we learned, developed and enjoyed each other.’ 

And so, as the colleagues made steady progress in their planning, tasks and responsibilities, they glued together as a collage of intertwined enthusiasm, desire and appreciation of each other’s qualities, their differing personalities, the encouragement to involve each other, and the skills they shared, formed a comprehensive team that grew in fondness and huge respect. As they put it, they tried together, made mistakes, learned, stressed, coped and overcame and helped each other through. 

Jennah profoundly reflected, ‘That strangeness blossomed to friendship, like seeds in a flower bed.’

The festival included an art exhibition at 123 St James’s Street created with and for local young people; the show entitled Happy Place invited 140 students from Burnley College to respond creatively to the Happy Place theme. From these, staff at Creative Spaces Burnley selected 11 standout artists to showcase in a professional gallery setting. Reuben reflected on the experience, saying, “I was blown away by the talent,” adding that he sees a bright future for visual arts in Burnley. The exhibition, along with other events, created a meaningful impact and left a lasting buzz across the town.

The festival also commissioned a public temporary sculpture shown in the stunning Towneley Park, created by T-Level students from Burnley College, supported by Nixie Edwards from T-Level Employer Architectural Practice, HAD (Standish Street, Burnley) which was shown throughout the festival period. You can find more information on this particular project here:

https://blazearts.co.uk/blog/archways-installation/

For the festival to achieve its aim, it was essential to reach out to as many young people as they could through personal invitations, promotions and word of mouth. As the plans developed, their ideas were widespread, utilizing varied venues at different locations across the length and breadth of the Burnley area including Burnley Mechanics, Burnley Youth Theatre, West End Community Centre, and Queen Street Mill. Each of those venues hosted a workshop, or presentation, or event, that encouraged participation at whatever level, a place where attendees could be enlightened and transformed, a place to develop existing skills, or even to discover hidden talents. 

Tierney said “When deciding on which skills workshops to programme, it was important to me to bring something that isn’t usually offered to young people in Burnley - so stand-up comedy with Black Liver was top of my list!”

They were all excellent events, quality lead, and free to access. In effect, it was a festival for everyone, everyone was warmly welcomed. 

Open mic performer, Sam Tiddy, said “I went there on a whim and performed three songs. The audience there, were so receptive, the people who organised it were so welcoming and so kind. From that, it gave me the confidence in myself to carry on with art and really express myself more.”

The team provided an accessible outlet for young people in the community. They witnessed over 900 people step over a threshold into a moment of meaningful engagement. They pulled together a brilliant display of creative art in various forms of media. They clearly have a heart for Burnley, and it seems clear too, that the young people of Burnley are already starting to find a fondness for the festival. All things considered, the team were all in agreement with how well it went. In the warm spirit of reflection, the team recall some of their favourite moments (and there are plenty of them). They were forever impressed by the quality of professional artists who provided a full-on session of engaging activities. From the puppetry session, in which a giant puppet was breathed into life, to the horror theatre workshop delivered by Thunder Road Theatre, to the open mic sessions with everything from music, poetry and spoken word, even the unexpected guy with a guitar turned up to have a go.  

Holly felt she had gained so much from this experience, learning to reflect more on other’s needs and would like to provide more opportunities through skill sharing. Reuben was keen to work more with the artists and keep that continued interest, finding ways to stay in touch. Tierney wants to see more young people engaging in such a great opportunity, to explore personal developments, and see the positive effects on wellbeing and mental health. Jennah was as honest and transparent as ever. She felt she had never connected with young people in this way and the local community. She admitted, ‘What needs improving? I need improving.’ And this comes through such experiences as this. 

As for the future, and what happens now. They look forward to seeing a team commitment that is consistent and built on shared experiences, enthusiasm, energy and joy. There was so much going on and so much more to do – it felt overwhelming at the time, but worth every moment of that time. At the heart of the team was Caroline, the In Focus festival director, who went above and beyond for them all. Her kindness, gentle assertiveness, positive enthusiasm, calm and collected problem solving, was a constant anchor. Such was her effective management and direction, she continues to hold their hands now in whatever direction they see themselves growing in. There is quite rightly, a sense of pride in what they have all achieved. Their mark of success was not the numbers that turned up, but the personal experience each individual came with, and each went away with. That’s what is memorable, that’s what is long-lasting.  And that’s what makes the festival such a success as it was. The team want to continue to work in Burnley, to be Burnley focused, Burnley: a place full of young people with bags of potential. 

Blaze is a registered Youth Arts charity that has operated in Lancashire for over a decade, they provide a range of exceptional creative opportunities for young people in Burnley and beyond. If you want to find out more, or be involved in future projects you can follow Blaze on social media or sign up the Blaze Mailing List at 

https://blazeonline.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=86c0178c289d349af67859783&id=c64977c912

In Focus was funded by Arts Council England, Brian Mercer Trust, Trusthouse Foundation, Burnley LCEP, Calico Homes and Community Rail Lancashire. 

‍

Photo credits: Grace Blizzard

‍