Mapping 2021
We’ve been working on the first part of our ongoing project to map 2021 plans and projects for Outdoor Arts in the UK; this first part looks at urban and rural festivals, venue programmes, purpose-built outdoor spaces and field and coastal festivals which include work from the Outdoor Arts performance sector.
Subject to Change
Below is a list of what we know so far, and huge thanks to everyone who has taken part in this exercise.
We are really pleased to see that there are so many positive plans, but it cannot be overstated that everything here is subject to amendment, postponement and rescheduling – as lockdowns, roadmaps and other factors dictate. We’re also looking at carnival, mela, spoken word touring and light festivals. If you have anything to add or update to any of these lists, please contact us: info@outdoorartsuk.org
March
Liverpool River of Light | Liverpool | 23 Mar-5 Apr | https://www.visitliverpool.com/whats-on/river-of-light-p397491
April
Invisible Dances [PDSW] | Bournemouth | 6-10 Apr | https://www.pdsw.org.uk/whats-on/invisible-dances/
Peace Poem [EEA] | Barking & Dagenham | 14-18 Apr | https://www.creativebd.org.uk/peace-poem
Behind Closed Doors [27 Degrees] | Spitalfields | 14-17 Apr | https://www.27degrees.org/behindcloseddoors
Legends, Lights & Lullabies [SpareParts] | Sandbach | 17-Apr | https://sparepartsfestival.co.uk/festival-programme/sandbach-2021
Arrivals & Departures [YARA + DAVINA] | Brighton | 30 Apr-8 May | https://brightonfestival.org/whats-on/arrivals-departures-1167/
May
Brighton Festival | Brighton | 1-31 May | https://brightonfestival.org/
Recovery Poems [EEA] | Brighton | 1-2 May | https://brightonfestival.org/whats-on/recovery-poems-1367/
Rider Spoke [Blast Theory] | Brighton | 1-23 May | https://brightonfestival.org/whats-on/rider-spoke-1369/
Points of Departure [Ray Lee] | Brighton | 1-23 May | https://brightonfestival.org/
Of earth and Sky [Luke Jerram/Festival of Making] | Blackburn & Darwen | 1 May-31 Jul | https://festivalofmaking.co.uk/
The Hull Vigil [Freedom Festival] | Hull | 3 May-3 May 2022 | https://www.thehullvigil.co.uk/
In Memoriam [Luke Jerram/Birmingham Hippodrome] | Birmingham | 8-16 May | https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com
Pier to Pier [Rapt Theatre] | Brighton | 10 May-6 Jun | https://www.pier-to-pier.com/
Semaphore [MSL Projects] | Hastings | 17-May | http://www.mslprojects.co.uk/
Norwich & Norfolk Festival | Norwich | 17-30 May | https://nnfestival.org.uk/
C-O-N-T-A-C-T | Salford / Manchester | 18 May-27 Jun | https://www.contactshow.co.uk/
Brighton Open Air Theatre | Brighton | 19 May-26 Sep | https://www.brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk/
Lightnight Liverpool | Liverpool | 21-May | https://lightnightliverpool.co.uk/
Estuary 2021 | Thames Estuary | 22 May-13 Jun | https://www.estuaryfestival.com/
The Garden Party [NNF] | Norwich | 22-23 May | https://nnfestival.org.uk/
Robot Selfie [Brighton Festival] | Brighton | 26-31 May | https://brightonfestival.org/
AND Festival | Manchester | 27 May-11 Jul | https://www.andfestival.org.uk/
Bath Fringe Festival | Bath | 28 May-13 Jun | https://www.bathfringe.co.uk/
Roman Theatre Outdoor Season [Maltings] | St Albans | 28 May-11 July | http://maltingstheatre.co.uk/
Wtihout Walls @ Our Place [Brighton Festival] | Brighton & Hove | 28-30 May | https://brightonfestival.org/
City Encounters – Wiltshire Creative | Salisbury | 30-31 May | https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/
Highstreet Playground | Royal Tunbridge Wells | 31 May- 6 June TBC |
One Day in Wonderland [Lights of London] | 31 May-4 Jun | https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/
Hereford River Carnival | River Wye | May – TBC | https://rivercarnival.org.uk/
Nottingham Puppet Festival | Nottingham | May-Jun – TBC | https://nottinghampuppetfestival.co.uk/
June
The Show Windows | Coventry 2021 | from 1 Jun | https://coventry2021.co.uk/coming-soon/the-show-windows/
Macbeth [Lord Chamberlain’s Men] | Salisbury | 3-5 Jun | https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/outdoor-events/macbeth-2021/
Pitlochry Festival Theatre Outdoor Season | Pitlochry | 3 Jun-10 Sept | https://pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/
Birmingham International Dance Festival | Birmingham | 3-13 June | https://www.bidf.co.uk/
Coventry Moves – Coventry 2021 | Online, on the radio, on your timeline | 5 Jun 2021 | https://coventry2021.co.uk/
Ondine [Teatro Vivo] | Abbotsbury, Dorset | 12-13 Jun | https://www.teatrovivo.co.uk/event/ondine
Puddings & Pathways Festival | East Sussex | 12, 18 & 26 Jun | https://18hours.org.uk/
A Thing of Beauty: City of London | London | 13 Jun-31 Oct | https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/events
Watermans Bell Square | London | 14 Jun-18 Dec | https://www.bellsquarelondon.com
Cork Midsummer Festival | Ireland | 14-27 Jun | https://www.corkmidsummer.com/
Journeys Festival International – Refugee Week | Leicester / Manchester / Portsmouth | 14-20 June | https://www.journeysfestival.com/
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre | London | 17 Jun-25 Sep | https://openairtheatre.com/
Thorington Theatre Season | Suffolk | 18 Jun-30 Aug | https://www.thoringtontheatre.co.uk/
Can You Hear Me Now? | Coventry 2021 | 20 Jun | https://coventry2021.co.uk/coming-soon/can-you-hear-me-now/
Blue Sky Festival [Pound Arts] | Corsham | 21-27 Jun | https://poundarts.org.uk/festival/blue-sky-festival-2021/
Iris Theatre Outdoor Theatre Festival | Covent Garden | 21 Jun-22 Aug | https://iristheatre.com/
Basingstoke Festival | Basingstoke | 24 Jun-11 Jul | https://www.basingstokefestival.co.uk/
Physical Fest | Liverpool | 25 Jun – 2 Jul | https://www.tmesistheatre.com/physical-fest/
Wandsworth Arts Fringe | Wandsworth | 25 Jun-11 Jul | https://www.wandsworthfringe.com/
Beach of Dreams [Kinetika] | East Coast | 26 Jun-1 Aug | https://kinetika.co.uk/beach-of-dreams
Geronimo Festival | Heaton Park, Manchester | 26-27 Jun | https://www.geronimofest.com/
Bedlam Fair | Bath | Jun – TBC | https://www.bathfringe.co.uk/
Fusion Festival [Cohesion Plus] | Gravesend | Jun – TBC | https://www.cohesionplus.com/
Street Sunday: Hebden Bridge Arts Festival | Hebden Bridge | Jun – TBC | https://www.hebdenbridgeartsfestival.co.uk/
Manchester Day Parade | Manchester | Jun – TBC | https://manchesterday.co.uk/
National Festival of Making | Blackburn | Jun – TBC | https://festivalofmaking.co.uk/
Didsbury Arts Festival | Didsbury | Jun – TBC | https://didsburyartsfestival.org/
Accelerate Festival [Spare Parts] | Oldham | Jun – TBC | https://www.oldham.gov.uk/accelerate
Imagine Watford | Watford | Jun – TBC | http://www.imaginewatford.co.uk/
July
MIF | Manchester | 1-18 Jul | https://mif.co.uk/
Under Canvas Festival | Inverness | 1 July – 30 Sept | https://eden-court.co.uk/
Hat Fair | Winchester | 2-4 Jul | https://www.hatfair.co.uk/
Ports Fest | Portsmouth | 2-4 Jul | https://www.portsfest.co.uk/home/2021
Timber Festival | Leicestershire | 2-4 Jul | https://timberfestival.org.uk/
Bradford Fringe Festival | Bradford | 3 Jul-1 Aug | https://www.bradfordfringe.co.uk/
Henley Festival | Henley, Oxfordshire | 7-11 Jul | https://henley-festival.co.uk/
Buxton Festival Fringe | Buxton | 7-25 Jul | https://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk
Merchant City Festival | Glasgow | 8-11 Jul | https://www.merchantcityfestival.com/
Bridgwater Quayside Festival | Bridgwater, Somerset | 9-10 Jul | http://www.bridgwaterquaysidefestival.uk/
Streets of Battle [18 Hours] | East Sussex | 10 Jul | https://18hours.org.uk/
Mouth of the Tyne Festival | Tynemouth | 10-11 Jul | https://mouthofthetynefestival.com/
IF:MK | Milton Keynes | 10-30 July | https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Surge Festival | Glasgow | 10-11 Jul | http://www.surge.scot/
TILT Festival | Birmingham | 12-18 Jul | https://www.tiltfestival.com/
National Children’s Carnival Week | UK | 12-18 Jul | https://www.carnivalarts.org.uk/
Fleetwood Tram Sunday (In Memorium) – SpareParts | Fleetwood | 16-18 Jul | https://sparepartsfestival.co.uk/
Summer Streets | Sunderland | 16-19 Jul | https://www.summerstreetsfestival.com/
Hope Mill Festival | Manchester | 16 Jul-8 Aug | https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/
Bedworth Party in the Park | Bedworth | 17-Jul | https://www.bedworthpartyinthepark.co.uk/
The Walk: Manchester | Manchester | 18-Jul | https://mif.co.uk/whats-on/the-walk/
Same But Different – The Arches Festivals, Severn Arts | Worcester | 19-23 Jul | https://thearchesworcesterfestivals.co.uk/
Our City Dances – South East Dance | Brighton & Hove | 19-24 Jul | https://southeastdance.org.uk/
Bluedot Festival | Cheshire | 22-25 Jul | https://www.discoverthebluedot.com/
WOMAD | Wiltshire | 22-25 Jul | https://womad.co.uk/
Nozstock: The Hidden Valley Festival | Herefordshire | 22-25 Jul | https://nozstock.com/
Latitude Festival | Suffolk | 22-25 Jul | https://www.latitudefestival.com/
Standon Calling | Hertfordshire| 22-25 Jul | https://standon-calling.com/
Ensemble Festival, Certain Blacks | Royal Docks London | 23-25 Jul | https://certainblacks.com/
Creative Europe School of Participation Event | Coventry 2021 | 24 Jul | https://coventry2021.co.uk/coming-soon/
Streets of Bexhill [18 Hours] | East Sussex | 29-May | https://18hours.org.uk/
Camp Bestival | Dorset | 29 Jul-1 Aug | https://www.campbestival.net/
Stockton Riverside International Festival | Stockton | 29 Jul-1 Aug | https://sirf.co.uk/
Kendal Calling | Kendal | 29 Jul-1 Aug | https://www.kendalcalling.co.uk/
Green Gathering | Chepstow | 29 July-1 Aug | http://www.greengathering.org.uk/
Enchanted Leonardslee | West Sussex | 30 Jul- 8 Aug | https://enchantedleonardslee.co.uk/
Summer in Southside – Birmingham Hippodrome | Birmingham | Jul – TBC | https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/
Taliesin DanceDays | Swansea | Jul – TBC | https://www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk/en/
Dagfest, Creative Barking & Dagenham | Dagenham | Jul – TBC | https://creativebd.org.uk/
Mirfield Arts Festival | Mirfield | Jul – TBC | https://mirfieldartsfestival.wordpress.com/
Festival of the Sky | Cleethorpes | Jul – TBC | https://www.fromthefields.co.uk/events/festivalofthesky
Thamesmead Festival | Southmere Park | Jul – TBC | https://www.thamesmeadnow.org.uk/
Taunton Live | Taunton | Jul – TBC | http://tauntonlive.co.uk/
Happy Streets – Nine Elms on the South Bank | Wandsworth | Jul – TBC | https://nineelmslondon.com/
iVamos! Latin American Festival | Leeds / NE | Jul – TBC | https://vamosfestival.com/
Castaway – Coventry 2021 | Coventry | Jul-Aug – TBC | https://coventry2021.co.uk/coming-soon/castaway/
August
B-Side Hip Hop Festival | Birmingham | 7-Aug | https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/
Art in the Park | Leamington Spa | 7-8 Aug | https://www.artinpark.co.uk/
Boomtown Fair | Winchester | 11-15 Aug | https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/
CVX Festival – Coventry 2021 | Coventry | 12-15 Aug | https://coventry2021.co.uk/coming-soon/cvx-festival/
St Leonards’ Festival [18 Hours] | St Leonards | 14-Aug | https://www.stleonardsfestival.org/
IncludFest – Tin Arts | Durham | 14-Aug | https://www.facebook.com/includFEST/
Mayflower 400: The Hatchling | Plymouth | 14-15 Aug | https://www.thehatchling.co.uk/
Gloworm Festival | Nottinghamshire | 14-15 Aug | http://glowormfestival.co.uk/
Green Man Festival | Brecon Beacon | 19-22 Aug | https://www.greenman.net/
Just So Festival | Cheshire | 20-22 Aug | https://justsofestival.org.uk/
Geronimo Festival | Arley Hall, Cheshire | 20-23 Aug | https://www.geronimofest.com/
Wakefield Festival of the Earth | West Yorkshire | 20-30 Aug | https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/
Freedom Festival | Hull | 20 Aug-5 Sept TBC | https://www.freedomfestival.co.uk/
TrAction [Spare Parts] | Crewe | 21-22 Aug | https://www.crewetowncouncil.gov.uk/events/
Moving Parts: Newcastle Puppetry Festival | Newcastle | 21-22 Aug | https://www.movingpartsarts.com/
Electric Medway | Chatham | 21-30 Aug | https://electricmedway.co.uk/
Devizes Picnic in the Park | Hillworth Park | 22 Aug | https://www.docadevizes.org.uk/
Towersey Festival | Towersey | 27-30 Aug | https://www.towerseyfestival.com/
Greenwich+Docklands International Festival | Greenwich | 27 Aug-11 Sept | https://festival.org/gdif/
Exeter Street Arts Festival | Exeter | 28 Aug | https://exeterstreetartsfestival.co.uk/
Boing Festival | Canterbury | 28-29 Aug | https://boingfestival.com/
Devizes International Street Festival | Devizes | 30 Aug | https://www.docadevizes.org.uk/street-festival/
Big Feast [Appetite] | Stoke | Aug – TBC | https://www.appetite.org.uk/
Bradford Festival | Bradford | Aug – TBC | http://www.bradfordfestival.org.uk/
Leicester City Festival | Leicester | Aug – TBC | https://www.visitleicester.info/
Elephant and the Nun Festival | Southwark | Aug – TBC | https://www.southwark.gov.uk/events-culture-and-heritage
Rochdale Feel Good Festival [Spare Parts] | Rochdale | Aug – TBC | http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/feelgoodfestival
Wonderful World, Culture House | Grimsby | Aug – TBC | https://www.theculturehouse.co.uk/
September
Totally Thames | London | 1-30 Sep | https://thamesfestivaltrust.org/
Vintage by the Sea | Morecambe | 4-5 Sept | https://www.decopublique.co.uk/vintage-by-the-sea-1
Nairn Festival | Nairn | 4-12 Sept | https://www.nairnfestival.co.uk/
Culture Weston: Arts + Health | Weston-super-Mare | 8-26 Sep | https://cultureweston.org.uk/arts-health-weekender/
New Mills Festival | High Peak | 10-26 Sep | https://www.newmillsfestival.com/
Whirligig Festival of Outdoor Arts [Theatre Orchard] | Weston-super-Mare | 11-Sep | https://www.theatreorchard.org.uk/
All in the Mind Festival | Basingstoke | 11-Sep | https://aitmfestival.com/
Out There Festival – Out There Arts | Great Yarmouth | 17-19 Sep | https://outtherearts.org.uk/
Holmfirth Arts Festival | West Yorkshire | 17-19 Sep | https://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/
Lancashire Encounter | Preston | 17-19 Sep | http://www.lancsencounter.co.uk/
Inside Out Dorset – Activate | Dorset | 17-26 Sep | http://www.insideoutdorset.co.uk/
Festival of Thrift | Redcar | 25-26 Sep | https://www.festivalofthrift.co.uk/
Journeys Festival of Outdoor Dance | Rother | 25-26 Sept | https://18hours.org.uk/journeys-dance-festival/
Derby Festé | Derby | 25-27 Sep | https://www.derbyfeste.com/
Wye Valley River Festival | Wye Valley | Sep – TBC | https://www.wyevalleyriverfestival.co.uk/
SO Festival | Skegness | Sep – TBC | https://www.sofestival.org/
The Full Shebang [First Art] | Mansfield | Sep – TBC | https://firstart.org.uk/
Witham Puppet Festival | Witham | Sep – TBC | http://withaminternationalpuppetfestival.co.uk/
Theatre of Wandering | Coventry 2021 | Sep – TBA | https://coventry2021.co.uk/coming-soon/theatre-of-wandering/
October
Bournemouth Arts by the Sea | Bournemouth | 1-3 Oct | https://artsbythesea.co.uk/
Leeds Light Night | Leeds | 14-16 Oct | https://whatson.leeds.gov.uk/lightnight/Home
Bloomsbury Festival | London | 15-24 Oct | http://www.bloomsburyfestival.org.uk
Journeys Festival International | Leicester / Manchester / Portsmouth | 15-24 Oct | https://www.journeysfestival.com/
Lightpool Festival | Blackpool | 15-30 Oct | https://www.visitblackpool.com/things-to-do/festival/
Hastings Storytelling Festival | Hastings | 17-24 Oct | https://www.hastingsstoryfest.org.uk/
Light Night [The Arches Festivals] | Worcester | 19-21 Oct | https://thearchesworcesterfestivals.co.uk/light-night/
Fire on the Water | Great Yarmouth | 21 Oct-6 Nov | https://outtherearts.org.uk/event/fire-on-the-water/
The Walk: Coventry | Coventry | 27 Oct | https://coventry2021.co.uk/coming-soon/the-walk/
The Winter Droving | Penrith | 28-30 Oct | https://www.edenarts.co.uk/
Leap Festival | Liverpool | Oct – TBC | https://www.mdi.org.uk/
Yorkshire Festival of Story | Settle | Oct – TBC | https://www.settlestories.org.uk/whats_on/festival/
Join the Docks | Newham | Oct – TBC | https://www.royaldocks.london/
Paisley Halloween Festival | Paisley | Oct – TBC | https://paisley.is/
Now Northwich | Cheshire | Oct – TBC | http://www.cheshiredance.org/index.html
Tunbridge Wells Puppet Festival | Tunbridge Wells | Oct – TBC | https://twpuppetryfestival.org/
November
Light Up Lancaster | Lancaster | 5-6 Nov | https://www.lightuplancaster.co.uk/
Lumiere [Artichoke] | Durham | 18-21 Nov | https://www.lumiere-festival.com/
Luminate Coombe | Coventry | 18 Nov-24 Dec | https://luminate.live/coombe-abbey
Illuminate Light Festival | Plymouth | 25-28 Nov | https://illuminate-festival.co.uk/
Leonardslee Illuminated | Horsham | 25 Nov-22 Dec | https://leonardsleeilluminated.co.uk/
Random String: The Canal Networked | Coventry 2021 | https://coventry2021.co.uk/coming-soon/
December
Dunster by Candlelight | Dunster | 3-4 Dec | https://dunsterbycandlelight.co.uk/
Lightwaves | Salford | 3-12 Dec | https://quaysculture.com/
Woolwich Winter Warmer | Woolwich | Dec – TBC | https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/christmas
January 2022
Bexhill: After Dark [18 Hours] | East Sussex | 22-Jan-22 | https://18hours.org.uk/
Various dates / Ongoing Programmes
Applause Rural Touring | Kent / East Sussex / West Sussex | Various – TBC | https://applause.org.uk/
Arcola Outside | London | Various | https://www.arcolatheatre.com/outside/
Arts Alive | Shropshire | Various – TBC | https://www.artsalive.co.uk/
Barbican Centre | London | Various – TBC | https://www.barbican.org.uk/
Bell Square | Hounslow | Various – TBC | https://www.bellsquarelondon.com/
Brick Box | Bradford | Various | https://thebrickbox.co.uk/
Canary Wharf Arts & Events | London | Various – TBC | https://canarywharf.com/whats-on/
Circulate | London | Various – TBC | http://www.circulate.london/
Corn Exchange / 101 | Newbury | Various – TBC | https://cornexchangenew.com/
Culture Weston | Weston | Various – TBC | https://cultureweston.org.uk/
DN Festivals – Right Up Your Street | Doncaster | Various – TBC | https://www.rightupourstreet.org.uk/
Dolphin Creative | National | Various | https://dolphincreative.org/
Emergency Exit Arts | Greenwich | Various | https://eea.org.uk/
English Heritage | National | Various | https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/
Fool’s Paradise | National | Various | https://www.foolsparadise.co.uk/
Festival of Fools | Belfast | TBC | https://2019.foolsfestival.com/
Great Place Wentworth & Elsecar | South Yorkshire | Various – TBC | http://wegreatplace.com/
Lincoln Performing Arts Centre | Lincoln | Various – TBC | https://lpac.co.uk/
Little Angel Theatre | London | Various – TBC | https://littleangeltheatre.com/
Medway Council Events | Kent | Various – TBC | https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200182/arts_and_heritage
Minack Theatre | Cornwall | Various – TBC | https://www.minack.com/
MSL Projects | Hastings | Various | http://www.mslprojects.co.uk/
National Trust | Swindon | Various | https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
Newcastle Gateshead Initiative | Newcastle | Various – TBC | https://www.ngi.org.uk/
The Place | Bedford | Various – TBC | https://www.theplacebedford.org.uk/
Pavillion Dance South West | Bournemouth | Various – TBC | https://www.pdsw.org.uk/
Piece Hall | Halifax | Various – TBC | https://www.thepiecehall.co.uk/
Quays Culture | Salford | Various – TBC | https://quaysculture.com/
Redbridge Outdoor Arts, Vision RCL | Redbridge | Various – TBC | https://visionrcl.org.uk/events/redbridge-outdoor-arts/
SALTo Productions | Whitley Bay | Various | http://saltoartsproductions.co.uk/
Streets of Dundee | Dundee | TBC | https://www.dundee.com/dundee-summer-streets-festival
Southbank Centre | London | Various | https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/
Southwark Presents | London | Various – TBC | https://www.southwark.gov.uk/events-culture-and-heritage
Strike-a-Light | Gloucester | Various – TBC | https://strikealight.org.uk/
Without Walls / XTRAX | National | Various | https://www.withoutwalls.uk.com/
Cancelled / Postponed
Bristol Harbour Festival | Bristol | https://www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk/
