Carnival of Creativity 2024

On the 31st of August 2024, the Carnival of Creativity took place at the World of Glass, the Market Space, and St Helens Town Hall, welcoming over 1,300 attendees for a day filled with activities that showcased the Arts in Libraries programme. This vibrant event embraced a diverse range of art forms, inviting families and friends to immerse themselves in the rich culture that St Helens has to offer.

The day had music, dance, storytelling and a fayre of beautiful local crafts. The Library Stage presented a fantastic array of performances, with poetry by Paul Cookson, an open-mic showcase featuring local writers, and a family-friendly cabaret hosted by Nana Funk.

Malawian-born musician Marco Woolf showcased a new dance and story-telling work created with the Arts in Libraries community youth group.

The Library Stage hosted the much-anticipated 'Desert Island Books', where St Helens' own legend, Johnny Vegas, shared his favourite books and stories.

Lucem House Community Cinema took over the World of Glass Auditorium, screening films that celebrated local heritage and achievements. Titles such as The Quiet Little Englishman and Zog proved that storytelling through film remains a powerful and unifying format.

Outdoor play areas and craft stations provided younger visitors with creative opportunities. They made fairy doors, and had their faces painted (of course!) while the Kaleidoscopic Creativity section had glassblowing demonstrations, hands-on art, and sound-making.

Photography and writing workshops introduced people to our ongoing creative participatory work, and we launched the Storybook Project, which brings writers and illustrators together to create five new children's picture books. These books will be read at our 2024 StoryFest, with copies placed in local libraries for everyone to read.

St Mary's Market featured a vibrant Makers' Market showcasing local creators, a collaborative initiative conceived by community activator groups and our partners in St Helens. Dance was courtesy of Powered by Hip Hop, music by Buzz Hub, and local artists shared their skills in lino printing, calligraphy, and figure drawing.

The day culminated in a truly spectacular evening gig at St Helens Town Hall, with performances by Stealing Sheep and TVAM - with a sneaky guest performance by our very own Mucky Mountain Morris Dancers. 

By the way, the Carnival of Creativity not only showcased the artistic talent of St Helens, but also highlighted the vital role libraries play in fostering community spirit and encouraging creative expression.

Last word: The Carnival of Creativity will be back. Watch this space.