Philip Astley Centre Public Opening Countdown
Philip Astley Centre opening countdown
Philip Astley Centre opening countdown has started, Tomorrow Saturday 9 March at 10.00 am the Philip Astley Centre opens its doors on Merrial Street, Newcastle Under Lyme, to the public for the first time.
The public opening will give you the chance to meet the team and take part in some of the free activities throughout the day between 10.30 am and 4.00 pm.
Pop into the Philip Astley Centre run by Philip Astley Projects CIC to experience all sorts of activities, including puppetry workshops, circus skills, art, exercise, film shows, talks and lectures alongside visiting exhibitions to compliment the static displays.
The Philip Astley Centre forms part of the growing cultural trail around the area, setting Newcastle Under Lyme, Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire into the cultural landscape of circus arts.
Plans for the Philip Astley Centre are to raise awareness in the life and legacy of Philip Astley also helping to bring a new type of energy to the town, raising footfall, plus providing opportunities for local artists and performers to collaborate and work together.
Andrew Van Buren says: “For a long time my family and I with the Philip Astley Project team have talked about turning Newcastle under Lyme into a cultural hub of circus arts, not only celebrating the history and academia of the subject but also giving opportunities for locals and visitors to learn the physical skills from ground based to aerial, the opening of the Philip Astley Centre is a massive step toward realising our dreams “.
Andrew goes on to say: “It is wonderful that we now have the visitor centre, the growing archive for research, and are already working on collaborations with other existing local artists, performers and encouraging new talent. It is important that we give opportunities to those who live here, so often creative spaces take people and their trade out of the town centres, we are incredibly happy that our efforts will bring additional people into the heart of the town, which has to gently help other local businesses”.
Already launched is the Philip Astley Projects schools outreach programme which combines the Philip Astley story with circus skills workshops, taking the sessions into schools and providing the chance for classes to visit the Philip Astley Centre. For more information click here.
Thanks to Levelling Up funding and a lot of donated time and effort the Philip Astley Centre sees the refurbishment of a derelict property into a bright and exciting new visitor centre for Newcastle under Lyme.
Updates can be found at: The Philip Astley Project Facebook Page & on Twitter also on the Philip Astley Project website: www.philipastley.org.uk
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