Page 16 - 366091 LP246228 NE Volume Magazine (170mm x 245mm 52pp) September 2022

CULTURE SPOTLIGHT SEPTEMBER 2022
FESTIVAL
OF THRIFT REDCAR
This year’s Festival of Thrift returns to
Kirkleatham, Redcar for a celebration
of sustainability, marking its tenth
anniversary in the process. Founded
in Darlington in 2012, and moving to
Redcar in 2016, the annual festival has
welcomed over 180,000 visitors to the region
and chose Redcar as a venue when the town was
experiencing a period of challenge after the demise
of the steelworks. Festival of Thrift CIC is the business
behind the festival; a community interest company that celebrates sustainable living through creative cooperation, building and sustaining resilient communities, working with high-quality socially-engaged artists and reaching out locally and across the UK to audiences of all backgrounds.The theme for this year's Festival of Thrift's is 'Our Common Wealth', aligning with the 2022 Commonwealth Games but also exploring in more depth what our own ‘common wealth’ is - asking both what we share as well as what we have in common. The programme features artists and activities from across the globe and much closer to home to entertain attendees as well as highlighting sustainability issues. But exactly what can you expect to see? Well, ethical enterprises such as the local makers, food producers, artisans, upcyclers, fixers and recyclers, craftspeople and artists who trade and provide workshops and entertainment
will return in force for the festival weekend this September, with plenty of advice on how to live sustainably. Festival of Thrift's Fashion Show, ECOuture, will also return, featuring a range of sustainable and slow fashion outfits created
by some of the UK's best up-and-coming The programme features
designers. There’ll also be plenty of music
too, with West Africa’s finest musicians,
London Astrobeat Orchestra, performing
a very special arrangement in dedication
of Talking Heads. Originally envisioned as
a mobile festival, Thrift has enjoyed seven
successful years at its current home, with this year, unfortunately, marking the last time patrons will be
able to experience the festival in Kirkleatham. However,
the event is not travelling far, and will continue its journey across the Tees Valley to the new location of Billingham in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in 2023, providing further reassurance that the topic of sustainability and the interests of our community are needed now, if not more than ever, into the future. Festival of Thrift runs on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September. WAYNE MADDEN
Visit: festivalofthrift.co.uk
artists and activities from across the globe
16 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ CULTURE SPOTLIGHT