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WOW! Fest - Walsall Outdoor Wonders published their Delivery Report!8 months ago
WOW! Fest is a new community arts programme in Walsall bringing together local schools, audiences, youth groups, and professional performers to co-create a vibrant, inclusive outdoor dance festival.
WOW! Fest is Walsall’s first Outdoor Community Dance Festival, bringing together local schools, community groups, and 5 regional companies to celebrate dance, movement, and creativity. Taking place in Walsall Arboretum on 18–19 July 2025, the festival will feature professional outdoor performances, a Walsall Community Dance Stage, and interactive participatory activities like parkour, creative workshops, and outdoor games. The festival culminates a summer term-long engagement programme, offering free workshops in schools and youth groups, empowering participants to co-create performances with professional artists. The headline show, Up in the Sky, will showcase breathtaking aerial dance on a colossal 7-metre tall structure. Produced by Autin Dance Theatre with local partners, WOW! Fest is a joyful, inclusive festival, transforming public spaces through art and participation, giving Walsall families and residents a platform to express, connect, and celebrate creativity together.
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
WOW! Fest will bring lasting benefits to Walsall by providing free, high-quality arts experiences for children, young people, families, and local communities. The festival will empower participants and volunteers, boosting confidence, teamwork, and creativity through co-creation with experienced professional artists. By offering free creative workshops in schools and community groups, WOW! Fest will increase arts engagement among those facing barriers to participation. The festival will also provide training opportunities for 8 local ambassadors in event production, stage management, and creative facilitation, developing valuable and transferrable skills for future employment in the creative industries. Hosting WOW! Fest in Walsall Arboretum will bring new audiences to the park, fostering social connections and enhancing community pride. The festival will promote health and wellbeing through movement-based activities, encouraging physical play, self-expression, and cultural engagement
Steps to get it done:
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How will the money be spent?Target (inc. fees) £63,412
Costs Breakdown
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Target (inc. fees) £63,412
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VolunteerAutin Dance Theatre (ADT) is an award-winning, innovative dance company and registered charity based in Birmingham, UK, under the artistic direction of acclaimed choreographer Johnny Autin.
ADT’s mission is to inspire, educate, and drive positive social change through thought-provoking and engaging multi-disciplinary arts activities. The company actively connects with local communities, participants, and audiences, delivering work in theatres, public outdoor spaces, and unconventional settings.
As a collaborative ensemble known for its unique blend of contemporary storytelling, striking physicality, and large-scale designs, ADT creates socially inclusive and mass-participatory movement projects across the UK and internationally. From dynamic outdoor processions to immersive static performances, the company transports audiences on unforgettable journeys. Its critically acclaimed productions include Out of the Deep Blue, Street Games, Brimstone the Dragon, Parade - The Giant Wheel, and Light Up Fest, all of which have garnered a strong reputation for impactful community engagement and artistic excellence.
In 2025, ADT is excited to develop Up in the Sky, a groundbreaking new aerial dance production featuring a colossal 7-metre rig, exploring themes of displacement, resilience, and belonging.
Project Owner: Autin Dance Theatre CIO The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
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