Week-long celebration of creative invention.
The Festival of Imagineers returns for its third year with a week long programme of interactive exhibitions, workshops and activities from imagineers from all walks of life from Monday 26th September–1st October in Coventry.
Throughout the week a series of amazing free experiences will take place celebrating creative invention with local, national and international artists, engineers and designers inviting audiences to join in and become creative collaborators themselves.
From Monday 26th September Imagineer’s making space, the Daimler Powerhouse, will be open to the public from 12noon–4pm with opportunities to discover more about the work of Imagineer including current and future projects covering everything from Terrible Tractors to bikes to elephants as well as plans to transform the building into a centre of excellence for the creation of outdoor and site specific performances.
Throughout the week members of the public are invited to collaborate with, respond to and share their ideas with a series of Artists Residences including Nick Martin (the creator of Imagineer’s Godiva), visual artist Julia O’Connell and writer Chris O’Connell from Coventry’s award-winning Theatre Absolute, and digital arts organisation Ludic Rooms.
The Daimler Powerhouse will also be the base for a series of workshops and talks, for members of the public and school groups, covering everything from whole community cardboard creations and how to create recycled constructions such as musical oboes. Across the City talks and tours will explore the city’s architecture and the significance of the elephant as a symbol of Coventry.
The week culminates on Saturday 1st October with the Festival of Imagineers taking to the streets from 12noon through to 10pm with a series of ingenious, quirky and extraordinary performances transforming public spaces around the City.
Audiences can expect live animation and dance bringing together graffiti art and amazing choreography by Hungarian Bandart Productions at The Herbert Museum and Art Gallery. In University Square inspiring outdoor theatre will bring an Urban Astronaut, a Wheelhouse, Flycycle and Submercycle, a model town and hair sculpting extraordinaires to the streets.
Saturday 1st October draws to a close in the Cathedral ruins as dusk falls with a stunning waltz on stilts to the music of Johann Straus by Italian company Teatro Tascabile di Bergamo with Valse followed by Addictive TV’s acclaimed Orchestra of Samples, created over five years and featuring 200 musicians in Coventry Canal Basin.
Jane Hytch, Chief Executive Imagineer Productions said: “It is fantastic to be bringing the Festival of Imagineers to Coventry for a third year and we are really excited about bringing people into our making space, the Daimler Powerhouse.
“We want audiences to see for themselves how artists, designers and engineers work collaboratively with Imagineer to create extraordinary outdoor performances and events. We are also keen for people to join in either with our workshops or just offering their feedback on the projects we have planned.
“We are delighted to welcome companies from Hungary, Italy and Spain to perform alongside our colleagues from across the UK and Coventry, people will encounter some very special street theatre in and around the City when the Festival culminates on 1 October. We look forward to welcoming people throughout the week.”
David Burbidge, Chairman Coventry City of Culture Trust said: “This promises to be an exciting and memorable event and will be a great example of the innovation and creativity that Coventry has to offer.”
The full programme can be found online at www.imagineerproductions.co.uk or via facebook GodivaAwakes or twitter @ImagineerUK.