Wallacetown Community Arts Festival Set to Return to Ayr

Wallacetown will once again host their Community Arts Festival, as a result of collaboration between South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership, Ayr United Football Academy, Riverside Community Trust and local arts social enterprise, The Iris.

The festival will take place from Sunday 27 April until Saturday 10 May at various locations around the community, focusing on this year's theme, 'Change'. The free to attend festival will include a host of events that reflect the transformative power of art and how it can improve health and wellbeing, including a parade and family launch day, film screenings, open mic nights, performances in visual arts and music and more.

The final event will be held at Wallacetown Early Years Centre on Saturday 10 May, where attendees can look forward to a musical performance from young people from the centre and the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane through historical photographs from the area.

Partners from the South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership, Ayr United Football Club and The Iris met with local councillors and Chief Officers from South Ayrshire Council on Friday 11 April, at Ayr United Football Club to find out more about the festival.

Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Martin Dowey, said: "I'm delighted that the Wallacetown Community Arts Festival is returning for another year. After the success of last year, the South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership have been working hard to ensure that this year's event is even better, with a range of activities and events to cater to everyone."

Councillor Alec Clark, South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Rural Affairs said: "Festivals which focus on the strong community spirit of our local areas are an asset and this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the culture of Wallacetown. This year's festival explores the ways in which art, in all its' forms, can benefit our health and wellbeing and will be a great way for local residents to come together."

Councillor Julie Dettbarn, Chair of South Ayrshire's Community Planning Partnership, said: "It's wonderful that the Wallacetown community is being put on the map as the area is rich in history which deserves to be celebrated. Thank you to everyone involved in the multi-agency partnership who have worked tirelessly to make this event happen once again."

Councillor Bob Pollock, South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Economic Development said: "The Wallacetown Community Arts Festival aims to provide arts and events opportunities which are accessible and affordable to the entire community. The plans in place this year further builds upon our commitment to instil a sense of pride in our local communities."

Festival Co-Producer and Director of The Iris, Ross Hunter, said: "It's a pleasure to be producing the festival for the second year in a row!  We've had the chance to expand the creative offer this year with a team of amazing partners, and celebrating change gives us the scope to explore the changes and aspirations that the area has witnessed since the debut festival last year."

Further information on the Wallacetown Community Arts Festival can be found at https://www.theirisayr.com/wallacetowncaf.