Chester Performs hopes to play an important role in the
cultural life of Chester.
By Claire Henderson
Friday 7 December 2012
Chester Performs hopes to play an important role in the
cultural life of Chester with their projects.
As an organisation that creates innovative art projects,
Chester Performs aim to play an important role in the cultural life of Chester.
Their work is designed to involve, encourage and inspire.
15 locations around the city center will be used, including
empty retail spaces and shop windows. Rogues’ Galleries will engage Chester’s
shoppers, families and visitors thought a range of art works made by local and
international artists.
As well as ten daylong events, Chester Performs will
commission artists to work with schools and community groups to make artworks,
which will be displayed in the ‘shops’ during the event.
“We’re hoping the event will play a part in enriching
Chester’s cultural fabric, and enhance the public’s awareness of experiencing
culture,” said Amber Knipe, Programme Manager at Chester Performs. “We hope it
will contribute to Chester’s identity, and promote confidence in those who live
in the city. We’re celebrating what is special about Chester.”
Chester has been a bustling retail town since Tudor times,
with a diverse range of shops and trades. Using this as a cornerstone for the
event, and using the empty shops as venues, Chester Performs are looking for
artworks and projects, which are digital, film, or performance focused which
can be set within pop-up shops.
“Taking names of the old trades, guilds and shops that would
have made up the old city as a starting point, artists are invited to create
their own trading premises to showcase their work to the public,” said Mrs
Knipe.
The project will to some extent show the struggles the high
street has had with homogeneous brands and the effect this has on original
thought.