Welcome to In Focus – a brand new festival celebrating the creativity and talent of Burnley’s young people.
We’re shining a light on young artists, performers, producers and makers from across the town. Join us in July for a vibrant mix of events, exhibitions, workshops and performances.
This year’s theme is Happy Place. We’re exploring the places, spaces, memories and moments that make us feel good, in Burnley and beyond.
All events are completely free. If you’re a young person (up to 25) who needs support to attend – like help with travel costs – just get in touch with our Producer Reuben by emailing reuben@blazeonline.org.uk.
Join us in celebrating the imagination, energy and ambition of Burnley’s next generation of creatives.
In Focus is delivered by Blaze Arts in partnership with Burnley Local Cultural Education Partnership.
In Focus is funded by: Arts Council England, Brian Mercer Trust, Trusthouse Charitable Foundation, Calico Homes, Community Rail Lancashire.
Burnley LCEP Festival Partners: Burnley Leisure & Culture, Burnley College, Burnley Youth Theatre, Creative Spaces Burnley, Cultrapedia, Super Slow Way, Lancashire County Council, Calico Homes, Towneley Hall & Towneley Park.
What’s On
Archway Installation
14-27 July
Towneley Park, BB10 4PJ
A colourful installation exploring stages in life from 0-25. Designed by Burnley College T Level Students Alexi Cardwell, Amelia Akhtar, Haley Consolacion & Malaika Mahmood.
Open Mic Night
Wednesday 16 July
Burnley Mechanics Front Room, BB11 1BH
Doors at 6pm, performances 7-9pm
Performers can sign up now
Audience tickets coming soon
Our Young Producers and Burnley Words Festival invite you to grab the mic! We’re looking for performers aged 16-25 to bring their creative acts to the stage – you might be a singer, poet, rapper, actor, magician – as long as it’s creative, we’d love you to join us. Sign up for a spot using the google form. Audience tickets are free but must be booked through Burnley Mechanics.
Happy Place Exhibition
17-19 & 24-26 July (Thursday – Saturday)
123 St James’s Street, BB11 1PP
12pm-4pm
Students from Burnley College have responded creatively to the Happy Place theme. This exhibition has been curated to showcase a diverse selection of their interpretations, exploring what ‘happy place’ means through a range of artistic approaches and media.
QSM Young Creatives Fun Day
Saturday 19 July
Queen Street Mill, BB10 2HX
12pm-4pm
Step right up to the Queen Street Mill Young Creatives mini fun fair – packed with games, crafts and creativity! Try your luck at classic stalls like hook-a-duck and tombola, get stuck into outdoor games, design your own tote bag, and enjoy plenty more surprises.
Everybody Dance Workshop
Tuesday 22 July 2-3pm
Burnley Mechanics, BB11 1BH
Ages 16-25
Free tickets
Everybody Dance sessions are for everybody. DanceSyndrome believes that there is no right or wrong way to move and there is beauty and significance in everyone’s movement. Our Everybody Dance workshops are co-produced and co-delivered by a professional dance artist and a dance leader with a disability and explore taught dance, travel, connection exercises, and creative tasks which allow each participant’s voice to be heard and all ideas to be shared.
Puppet Making Workshop
Thursday 24 July 10.30-12.30pm
West End Community Centre, BB11 4BA
Ages 7-11
Free tickets
Join Puppet maker Amily Galhand for a skills workshop on puppet making. Together you will learn puppetry creating techniques and create as a group one MEGA large 3D moving puppet totally from scratch, with time at the end to perform and work as a team to puppeteer the creation!
Stand Up Comedy Workshop
Friday 25 July 10am-12pm
Burnley Youth Theatre, BB10 3LB
Ages 12-16
Free tickets
Create and perform your own five-minute comedy routine with professional comedians Ruth Cockburn (Leicester Comedy Fringe Finalist) and Keith Carter (BBC Breakthrough Comic of the Year) from award-winning comedy band Black Liver.
You’ll play games to kick start your creative brain, get one-to-one feedback, and learn how to shape your thoughts into a comedy set.
Shock Horror Workshop
Friday 25 July 2-5pm
Burnley College, BB12 0AN
Ages 14-18
Free tickets
Is your Happy Place on the dark side? Unravel the secrets and mystery behind horror theatre with Thunder Road. Led by multi-award-winning performer and National Theatre puppeteer Alex Moran (War Horse), this workshop explores the devices and techniques used to build suspense and tension in horror storytelling.
Additional Activity
As part of In Focus we’re also providing a number of outreach and school specific events and projects including:
- A recycled bottle lid mural created by Burnley Boys and Girls Club working with Plastic Shed
- An exhibition exploring cartooning, graffiti art and photoshop with young people from The Zone and artist Stu Harrison
- A drama-based project led by Burnley Youth Theatre with Cherry Fold, Brunshaw and Stoneyholme primary schools
- Burnley 2027 Year of Culture Network’s consultation with local young people to plan for Burnley’s Year of Culture
- A piece of collaborative art ‘Right Words Can Change the World’ by Burnley Youth Theatre’s Home Ed group
- Samba Drumming taster sessions for students of Holy Trinity, brought to them by Valley Street Community Centre and Blaze Arts
- Early Years workshops with Burnley Youth Theatre at Giant Leap, Playdor Nursery & West End community Centre