Encounter Festival 2024 programme announced

Preston's free festival of arts and culture, Encounter Festival has launched its programme for 2024. 

Scheduled to take place in Preston city centre, on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, this year's festival promises an array of performances and activities designed to engage and inspire audiences of all ages. This includes a commissioned female-led brass band, Brazen, with extensive experience in National Orchestras, Championship Brass Bands, touring Jazz Bands, Street Bands and more. 

One of the standout events of the festival is the Torchlight Procession, featuring almost 500 professional artists, performers, and community participants. This large-scale event will illuminate Preston's streets, highlighting the talents and creativity of local and regional artists while also creating a spectacle of light and atmosphere in the city centre. 

Councillor Anna Hindle, Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said:

"Encounter Festival brings people from all walks of life together to celebrate arts and culture whilst nurturing creativity, ambition, and community spirit in Preston and beyond.  

 

"With its diverse programming and strong focus on local engagement, the festival is poised to continue its growth and success, providing unique artistic experiences and fostering a sense of pride and ownership among residents and visitors alike. 

 

"It is exciting to see the festival develop and thrive year on year. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors to our city this September." 

Since its inception in 2015, Encounter Festival has become a cornerstone of Preston's cultural calendar, celebrated for bringing together communities through high-quality arts, culture, and performance with an emphasis on local talent and community involvement.  

New for 2024 is a partnership with Lancashire based company, Imitating the Dog, who will be creating a trail of light pieces and stories in shop windows ready to delight audiences throughout the city centre. 

On the Sunday, Winckley Square will host performances, workshops, and activities designed to entertain and engage visitors of all ages. 

This year's festival is being partly funded using the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) along with a grant from Arts Council England, plus other contributions.

The line-up features brilliant acts such as:

• WILD by MotionHouse
• Family Catwalk Extravaganza by Ghetto Fabulous
• Betty Brown Bags by Raggle Taggle Arts
• Introducing PLOT17 by Apples and Snakes
• Mughal Miniatures: Animal Paradise by Sonia Sabri Company
• Everywhere's a Beach by Hikapee Theatre
• Magical Story Jars
• Skiband to name a few.  

Visit the Encounter Festival 2024 for more information and the full programme of events.

Further Information

About Encounter Festival

Encounter Festival is an authentic voice for Preston, celebrating the breadth of the County's cultural offer with high quality and high profile arts. Taking place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, Encounter Festival sees the city of Preston buzzing with life and alight with creativity.

The past Encounters have seen an array of spectacular performances, inspiring arts and impressive music, bringing spectators to their feet. 

About The UK Shared Prosperity Fund  

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.

The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, people and skills.   

Preston City Council was awarded £5.2m in 2022 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

About Arts Council England

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture.

They  have set out strategic vision in Let's Create that by 2030 and want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences.

They invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.

Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support.

They are also one of the bodies administering the Government's unprecedented £1.96 billion Culture Recovery Funds.