What makes Lancaster an Arts City?

On Friday 5 October, the Lancaster Arts Partnership launched a new brand for Lancaster - Lancaster Arts City; to showcase the excellent arts activity in Lancaster, Morecambe and the district for residents and visitors alike. 

As well as a new website artscity.co.uk and a free ‘What’s On’ smartphone app, if you’re in the area on the first Friday of any month you’ll get the chance to try something new,  as part of their First
Fridays initiative. 

Across the city on this inaugural First Friday,  audiences enjoyed live music from More Music and DT3 (The Duke’s creative learning group), dance theatre from  Company Chameleon, and a burst of African sunshine in the form of Afrovibes – a festival of contemporary theatre, dance, music, film and spoken word.

First Friday’s were heralded by local poet Ashley Murphy. Here’s an extract of his poem which he performed at the event....

Launching arts city on FIRST FRIDAY

Welcome welcome its the city on our minds
Welcome welcome Artcity on our minds
First recorded in the domesday book, Loncastre was its title
Lon for lune and castre for fort its history remains so vital
Cast your minds back as if a recital
City status given 1937 was the year
75 gone and the future of art is here
To know what its become and the progression its made
See the families that moved here and so many stayed
Back to a time when we didnt have ipads and shillings where paid
A time of busy docks and the heart of slave trade
As we pay respect to the memories and look forward to progressions
We celebrate local culture right through recessions
! First Friday where the arts are a driving force
! First Friday where transformation follows its course
! First Friday where culture is right at the source
The hills rise like platforms to show off architecture
With growing minds attracted here for schooling and lecture
This miniscule moment a dot on the map
Let’s tell people we exist, lets tell em where its at
Here, look at the app
Shadows of bigger cities with bigger shops
Bigger brothers think they’re the cream of the crop
But inthebackground lancaster makes its sound of jazz and rock
One for art
Two for smiles
Music’s roar will be heard for miles
Three for the people
Four for more
Artcity is here for all.......

There’s more on Friday 2 November, as Light Up Lancaster has music, film, dance and art animating some of Lancaster’s beautiful buildings, streets and squares – all for FREE. For further updates www.facebook.com/LancasterArtsCity

If you’d like more information about the economic value of Arts activity in Lancaster District or the Lancashire Arts Partnership and how you could be involved click here.