Lancaster Music Festival takes place in October aiming to bring together the community of Lancaster through music. Overriding feedback from 2023 was that people wanted more activities and music for families and for them to run longer through the day. This project will increase the number and scope of family-friendly activities, bringing them together under a LANCASTER FAMILY MUSIC FESTIVAL banner. With this funding we’ll create a trail of music-related activities around the city, increasing the number of music events for all ages from early years through to teenagers. We will create a printed trail and participants will receive stickers when they perform, play instruments, take part in interactive events, watch music shows/street theatre, or make stuff in fun hands-on workshops. New activities will include live performances of Cbeebies Music Storyland by the BBC; organ building workshops; play the Priory organ; recorder flash mob; early years gamalan; beatbox workshop, and lots more!

What we'll deliver:

• Family-friendly themed music events at venues around the city
• Creative workshops for children and young people
• Interactive music shows for early years children
• A printed trail of musical activities to be completed around the city
• Opportunities for children and young people to perform at the festival
• A diverse and multi-cultural programme of outdoor music and street theatre
• Family zones at festival venues and stages
• A safe and family-friendly event for the community
• All activities will be free or very low cost to remove barriers to taking part
• We will consult with the public to find out the activities they want

Why it's a great idea:

The benefits of this project will be to: - Increase access for all abilities and ages to take part in an established major arts event - Provide opportunities for young people to perform at the festival, boosting confidence and a sense of achievement - Provide extra-curricular musical and emotional learning for primary children in a fun way - Increase positive health and wellbeing through dance and music workshops - Create a legacy of children inspired by music to help sustain Lancaster’s rich musical culture into the future - Provide economic and promotional benefit to Lancaster’s arts, heritage and cultural venues - Widen the appeal of and add value to the wider festival, increasing the sense of community and economic impact of the event - Provide paid and volunteering opportunities for musicians, creatives and support staff - Increase sense of ownership of the festival by the community through increased inclusion opportunities and consultation

Steps to get it done:

• Research, consult, schedule and book musicians and workshop facilitators
• Commission new activities
• Liaise with activity venues, schedule activities and book venues and spaces
• Design and create activity trail booklets, stamps and stickers
• Create ticket listings for booking onto activities where necessary
• Review and where necessary update risk assessments and safeguarding & accessibility policies
• Promote the activities via schools and existing marketing channels
• Deliver the activities prior to and during the LMF weekend
• Gather feedback and evaluate the impact and benefit of the project

This project expanding the family activities at the festival will have particular impact in the areas specified above. However, the wider festival will have a significant economic impact – it now attracts an audience of over 55,000 over the weekend with an economic benefit for the city estimated in excess of £2.6 million. Creating a family festival within the main festival will add to economic growth as more people will be engaged with the festival and out spending around the city or travelling to visit as audience or participants.