COVENTRY is set to come alive this summer with a part of a dynamic outdoor arts festival, Streets of Cov.
Imagineer Productions will bring free pop-up performances of circus, dance, music, theatre and water-based pyrotechnics to the city.
The six-week festival will run on Fridays and Saturdays from August 16 to September 21, featuring local, national and international acts including award-winning Cia Kamchàtka, Stopgap, Highly Sprung, Gobbledegook Theatre, Avanti Display and Motionhouse, and comedy from Fraser Hooper and Abi Collins.
The performances will be held in Broadgate, Coventry Cathedral, the Canal Basin, London Road Cemetery, St Mary’s Guildhall and Lower Precinct.
The festival is backed by the Heart of England Community Foundation and has been presented in partnership with Coventry City Council – it aims to offer a programme to bring the community together.
The Heart of England Community Foundation donated £36,239 to the festival.
Angus MacKechnie, creative director and CEO of Imagineer Productions, said: “The event will feature top local, national and international outdoor arts companies, including many performers from Coventry and the West Midlands, offering a thrilling blend of circus, dance, storytelling and visual spectacles.
“Audiences will be able to dive into a wild adventure of breathtaking acrobatics and dance, see a tiny painting come to life, watch hilarious comedy acts, marvel at a circus made entirely from bamboo and even meet a six-metre tall slinky.
“Our goal is to engage the local community by providing free, high-quality arts experiences that are accessible to everyone, and elevate Coventry’s status as a leading hub for outdoor arts.”
Tina Costello OBE, chief executive of the Heart of England Community Foundation, said: “It is fantastic to be supporting an event which is so heavily focused on arts and culture – something which is so deeply rooted in Coventry.
“We believe that everyone should have an equal right to opportunities to experience arts and culture, and Streets of Cov will provide everyone with the chance to see live performances taking place in easily-accessible spaces.
“We are very proud to be named as one of the key sponsors and can’t wait for the festival to begin.”
