THESE WILL VANISH SATURDAY 16th – 17th MARCH SWINTON SQUARE M27 4BD FREE 12pm, 1pm 2pm Saturday and Sunday. Artists Lowri Evans and Biff Roxby present ‘These Will Vanish’, a title taken from a local Swinton newspaper headline from 1969. Inspired by revisiting the 1973 Swinton and Pendlebury Arts Festival, using archive recordings and interviews with people that were there, this will be a beautifully evocative event, connecting Swinton’s past with its present. The performance will comprise of 5 scenes […]

EXHIBITION A6 STORIES BY LEN GRANT 16th – 23rd March ARTS LET LOOSE The Unit 69-73 The Parade, Swinton M274BD FREE Well known artist Len Grant was specially commissioned for the NQL weekend to create drawings of the varied businesses along the A6 Chorley Road, and then write up the stories he heard whilst chatting with them. The resulting work can be seen in beautiful and poignant exhibition of prints and text at Arts Let Loose. There will also be […]

IMAGINE A CITY SATURDAY MARCH 16TH 10-2PM ARTS LET LOOSE The Unit 69-73 The Parade, Swinton M274BD FREE, DROP IN! City Designers, Builders and Refiners Workshop of the future: Unleashing Creativity with Buttress Architects!!! An event for children to let their imaginations run free, and for them to create a future city as they see it. This workshop will be hosted by Buttress Architects, who are a well established practice in Manchester. Using cardboard, old packaging and whatever else can […]

KNIT & NATTER SATURDAY MARCH 16TH 10-12PM ARTS LET LOOSE The Unit 69-73 The Parade, Swinton M274BD FREE – DROP IN FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANT… The wonderful Knit & Natter group are going to leave their normal gathering point at The Hive Cafe in Victoria Park, and set up in Arts Let Loose for a couple of hours on the Saturday morning of the festival. Bringing their wonderful knitting skills, and some great conversation, this is a chance […]

URBAN SKETCHING WORKSHOP WITH LEN GRANT SATURDAY MARCH 16TH 10-1pm Meet at Arts Let Loose The Unit 69-73 The Parade, Swinton M274BD FREE, TICKETED Join well known artist Len Grant for a sketching workshop around Swinton Square shopping centre. Len will lead a group to two locations and demonstrate how to sketch the view before you, helping you with technique and composition. You will need a stool or folding chair to sit on, a sketchpad and pens or pencils. YOU […]

MODERNIST GUIDED WALK – STEVE MARLAND SATURDAY MARCH 16TH 11 – 1PM MEET ARTS LET LOOSE The Unit 69-73 The Parade, Swinton M274BD FREE, TICKETED Join ardent moocher Steve Marland, from the Modernist Society, as leads you on a fascinating meander through the Municipal Modernist monuments of Swinton town centre. The walk follows a route past the Lancastrian Hall, shopping precinct and several other civic buildings of significance. You’ll definitely learn something about the town that you didn’t know before! […]

THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF THE SHOPPING PRECINCT SATURDAY MARCH 16TH 2.30-4.30PM ARTS LET LOOSE The Unit 69-73 The Parade, Swinton M274BD FREE, TICKETED The Modernist Society present a talk exploring the fascinating history behind the shopping precinct concept, discussing how they came to be conceived and built, and what the future holds for these shopping centres. The talk will be presented by author, photographer and academic Richard Brook from Lancaster University. Also at the event will be ITV’s Rosie […]

SWEET SWINTON MUSIC SATURDAY MARCH 16TH 7-10PM ARTS LET LOOSE The Unit 69-73 The Parade, Swinton M274BD FREE, TICKETED On Saturday 16th of March, Not Quite Light Festival presents a free-to-attend concert with a lineup featuring some of Swinton’s finest resident musicians. Locally based musician Biff Roxby, who plays in the band Honeyfeet, has curated a wonderful night of music provided by brilliant musicians who live in or around Swinton. Bar provided by Swinton’s very own House of Hops! TO […]

WALK, LISTEN AND SEE SUNDAY MARCH 17TH 8.30-10.30AM MEETING POINT: GREENWAY, Entrance Campbell Road/Marlow Drive FREE, TICKETED Join nature ranger Dave Winnard and artist Not Quite Light for an early morning walk along the Greenway in Swinton. This will be a beautiful, sensory experience as Dave helps identify the birdsong around you, and the plants and tree along the trail. Not Quite Light will help you consider how to observe the world around you, and offer tips to help you […]

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN MUSIC AT HOME SUNDAY MARCH 17TH 11.30-1.30PM ARTS LET LOOSE The Unit 69-73 The Parade, Swinton M274BD FREE, TICKETED Ever wanted to make your own beats? Learn the basics of music production on this free workshop with Brighter Sound. Open to anyone aged 11-18 – whether you’re totally new to making music, or you want to learn new ways of producing and recording your own tunes. ● Develop your music skills and confidence ● Learn […]