Festival of Tomorrow attendance more than doubles

Thousands of families turned out to explore the Festival of Tomorrow's biggest ever programme of spectacular performances, making this years event a massive success.

Over 47,000 attended this year’s programme, which brought local people together with artists, performers, researchers, universities, charities and organisations from across the UK and internationally to explore the theme Our Future Earth.   

Festival Director, Rod Hebden said: “We’re absolutely blown away by the response to this year’s Festival. In our fast-changing world, it’s never been more important that everyone can share in and help to shape the knowledge, research and creativity that will shape our future world. 

“We’re so grateful to the support we’ve received, particularly from the Arts Council, UK Research and Innovation, and Business West. There’s been a real sense of inclusion and community throughout this year’s events, which has been incredibly uplifting.”

Swindon primary schoolchildren got a head-start on the action, with over 11,000 free student places taken up on the festival’s biggest offering yet for primary schools, bringing inspiration and skills into the classroom. Thanks to support from long-term partners, Swindon-based UK Research and Innovation, Business West, Catalent and the Science and Technology Facilities Council, organisers were able to offer Swindon schools an exciting range OF online and in-school challenges, shows and workshops, giving thousands of pupils the opportunity to engage with science, technology, engineering and the creative arts.

Award-winning local author, Kate Claxton of Really Rather Wild said: "I'm so excited to combine my love of storytelling with the festival's 'Our Future Earth' theme this year, and kicking off my school visits during National Storytelling Week was just perfect!

“I worked with over 500 children to look at how trees tell a story as they grow, and to think about what kind of stories we want to tell while we grow on our precious planet! Storytelling is a wonderful way to introduce children to big important topics and I was blown away by the conversations and creations that came up as we thought about our place on Earth."

Talia Wood, a teacher at Covingham Park Primary School, which took part in numerous festival activities, said, at the end of one session: “I think that’s the best workshop for kids I’ve ever watched! If you could’ve seen the awe on my children’s faces!

“As it progressed, I watched a child who’d been adamant she wouldn’t enjoy it “because I don’t like science stuff” gradually crawling closer and closer to the screen until she was kneeling up near the front, totally transfixed.

“The talk in the cloakroom on the way out to play was, 'that was wicked!” and a whole lot of wonder. It’s generated lots of questions so we’re going to have to do some Googling after playtime! Thank you for such a brilliant session!”

Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram’s giant touring Earth artwork, Gaia was a focal point for festivalgoers during the half-term week, at the heart of a specially curated programme of events, workshops, performances and exhibits at Steam Museum, which invited visitors to re-imagine the Earth of the future.

Measuring six metres in diameter, Gaia features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface. The artwork provided visitors to Steam the unique opportunity to see our planet on this scale, floating in three-dimensions, with many families opting to stay for several hours enjoying the atmosphere.

Highlights of the week included a unique sell-out immersive performance by composer musician Charlie Hooper-Williams, whose haunting music and spectacular AI-generated live visuals provided an unforgettable counterpoint to the softly illuminated Gaia artwork. Nearly 1500 people were captivated by free performances on the Sonic Spider – a 4m wide playable sculpture, which invites listeners to enter an orb spider’s world of vibrations.

Shoppers at Swindon Designer Outlet were treated to a range of interactive activities – including the opportunity to help shape future work by local contemporary dance company, Neon Dance, by contributing design ideas for wearable sound sculptures in the Sonic Body Lab. A specially designed Sea Creature Superpowers trail was a huge hit, with almost 4000 families completing it by hunting for clues around the centre, learning about marine animal adaptations along the way.

Festivalgoers also enjoyed the opportunity to experience the work of some of Swindon’s talented local artists. Paintings by Sheryll Fox, Andi Theokle and Carol Burns were on display at both Steam Museum and a pop-up gallery at the Designer Outlet - joined at the Outlet by a spectacular display of ceramics by Lisa Lowe. Meanwhile, the Festival’s first Open Art exhibition, curated by Artist in Residence Jo Beal, showcased more than 60 works by local artists of all ages and experiences, attracting over 2000 visitors to the historic Carriage Works.

Local resident and international advocate for STEM to STEAM - which adds the arts to the world of STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - Carole Bent, said: “Fantastic - a wonderful mix that made us smile, laugh, think and learn.  Every single person that we encountered on the magical mystery tour seemed as uplifted as I felt.

“A confident, friendly, eclectic festival that made me feel proud just to live in the town where this came to life. I loved the breadth of people involved & sense of openness.”

Families flocked to the ever-popular Festival Finale hosted by the Deanery CE Academy on the 21 and 22 February, for two action-packed days of discovery, innovation and creativity.

Nearly 5,000 visitors explored five free interactive Discovery Zones packed with amazing demos, intriguing exhibits, hands-on activities, challenges and free workshops from organisations including the James Dyson Foundation, Catalent, the University of Bath, Swindon Paint Festival, the European Space Agency, Kings College London, the Woodland Trust and United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI), as well as an exciting programme of shows and performances.