WIREDGOV

This year Voluntary Arts Week is taking place from Friday 9 – Sunday 18 May, when cultural groups in cities, towns and villages across the UK and Republic of Ireland will open their doors and hold events to showcase their activities. Groups will be hosting open rehearsals, decorating their local area with colourful creations, offereing creative taster sessions or putting on special performances or exhibitions. 

This year’s Voluntary Arts Week has three special strands: CraftBomb, the Big Big Singand the Big Dance Pledge.

CraftBomb will see pop-up craft installations appearing in parks, gardens, high streets and cultural venues all over the country, including a crafty takeover in St Albans city centre, a k nitted display at Cross Corners Community Arts in Leicester, a pompom making extravaganza at Rufford Abbey Craft Centre in Nottinghamshire and guerril la knitting in Greenwich.

Other events include, a kn itting workshop in York, handmade festival in Kent, folk music in Newcastle upon Tyne, ope n rehearsals in Royston and a rehearsal and performance of the Pirates of Penzance in Cheshire.

Voluntary Arts has teamed up with the Big Big Sing this year. Big Big Sing sessions and Choir of the Year events are happening in Warwick, London, Southampton  and Norwich, while in other areas of the UK choirs are being encouraged to take their talent outside to stage music ‘flashmobs’.

And for those who love to dance, on Friday 16 May, the Big Dance Pledge will see thousands of people across the world performing the same dance routine between 1pm and 6pm.

To find out more about Voluntary Arts Week and how you can get involved, visit theirwebsite, send them an email or find them on Facebook.

Voluntary Arts Week is run by Voluntary Arts, an Arts Council England National portfolio organisation which works across the UK to develop amateur arts and crafts.