Lincoln’s iconic buildings provide perfect stage for city’s first Festival of Creativity

A new four-week festival celebrating emerging creative talent will launch this month in Lincoln’s first Festival of Creativity.

The festival will be launched in the magnificent setting of Lincoln Cathedral, where the historic Chapter House will provide the stage for the University of Lincoln’s annual Fashion Show, with students’ wildly creative designs offset against the spectacular medieval surroundings.

Other events will include talks from leading creative industry experts, including one of the world’s leading and respected admen, Sir John Hegarty, who will share his brilliant and provocative insights into creativity and the creative process gained from a career spanning over six decades.

The inaugural Lincoln Festival of Creativity takes place from Friday 12th May until Friday 9th June and will see final year students from the University of Lincoln’s College of Arts exhibiting their work at venues across the city, ranging from design and art exhibitions and fashion shows to interactive digital installations and theatrical performances.

Students’ creative endeavours will be showcased in another of Lincoln’s historic buildings as undergraduates take control of the city’s New Theatre Royal for a show featuring films, digital art, photography, soundscapes, radio and audio work, script readings and multi-media installations.

Other locations across the city providing venues for the festival include a shopping centre, a cinema and the public art gallery on the University’s main campus.

Professor Matthew Cragoe, Pro Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Arts at the University of Lincoln, said: “The first ever Lincoln Festival of Creativity promises to be a really exciting event which will immerse the whole city in the creative arts. The festival allows us to celebrate and showcase emerging creative talent and also challenges us to consider the importance of the arts in contemporary society. I hope as many people as possible will join us for the festival and find it both insightful and inspiring.”

Final year student Craig Clayton is looking forward to displaying his photography work as part of the festival.

He said: “Having this platform to show off our work as professional practitioners is fantastic.”

For more information about the Festival of Creativity, including dates, times and locations of each show, visit www.lincolnfestivalofcreativity.co.uk.