#AmazingAccrington Magazine - Summer Edition 2024

INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SCULPTURE SET TO ARRIVE IN ACCRINGTON

CONNECTING CULTURES

FREE family fun day of performances, activities and stalls, to celebrate our vibrant community. Sunday 16 June, 10am-4pm Haworth Art Gallery & Park, Accrington

Inside a Lumini structure, Architects of Air by Alan Parkinson

This year, ‘Connecting Cultures’ event is back bigger and better, taking over Haworth Art Gallery Gardens and Park for 4 days of activity - ending with a full programme of performances and workshops on Sunday 16th June. What happens when you combine opera, a giant inflatable sculpture and Accrington? A collaboration like no other…

Throughout the day FREE activities and attractions include:

MAIN STAGE 10am - Tai-Chi class suitable for all 11am - Musical Theatre show with Just Imagine UK & Motiv-8 Lancs 12pm - Interactive Dance workshop with DanceSyndrome 1pm - Bollywood Fusion show and workshop 2pm - Chinese Lion performance with Northern Dragons 3pm - Community Poem, performed by Respect & Dignity Arts Group

Henna art, heritage crafts, badge making, bonsai tree display, refugee artwork, Accrington Stanley penalty shootout, local makers market, community stalls.

Orchestra of Opera North’s principal violist, David Aspin, is one of Hyndburn’s home grown talents, leading some activity at this world-class event. David said: “As soon as I heard that something so unique was coming to Hyndburn, I knew I had to get involved. There is so much regeneration work planned over the coming years and activities like this really raise the bar, showing what people can expect in the future.” Lumini structures, designed by Architects of Air, Alan Parkinson, are an inflatable sculptural structure, offering an extraordinary space to experience light and colour. The lumini that is coming to Hyndburn has been bespoke-made for the occasion and will be filled with a variety of activity. David grew up in Hyndburn, studied at the Royal College of Music and is a regular guest principal with many of the UK’s

orchestras: “I am a child of the 70’s, I grew up not far from the viaduct in Accrington and I feel very proud to have come from this area. “The story of how I became a musician isn’t a tale of being born knowing, the reality is I was around 8 years old and I put my hand up in assembly at school thinking it was to ask for milk. I was mistaken and instead someone put a violin in my hand!” David is one of the local artists and performers delivering a workshop within the Lumini, with his aim being to introduce families to classical music and instruments, in a fun and interactive way: “I was an only child and not from a musical household, but someone putting that instrument in my hand changed my life and it turns out I was quite good at it. I hope my story can inspire others too. “I really enjoy running musical workshops, especially for younger people who may not feel particularly connected to classical

music. There is a shared language that comes with music and everyone, no matter their background, can experience it in their own unique way.” Children aged 7-11 and their families are invited to join David and his viola for an interactive workshop inside the Lumini on Sunday 16th June. All event workshops must be booked in advance and details can be found on the Hyndburn Council website: www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk

Follow Haworth Art Gallery on social media for event info and news!

David Aspin, photo by: Tom Arber

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