The debut performance of a band made up of local musicians, a park soundscape and traditional games and crafts are on offer as Stoke-on-Trent residents are invited to a picnic in the park. 

Picnic, to be held in Tunstall Park on Sunday, 28 July, is among the first events to be held as the Appetite arts programme gets underway in the city. 

The event has been organised to run on the same day as Tunstall Carnival – a popular annual event in the town’s Victoria Park. 

“We are inviting families to bring a picnic and join in the fun,” said organiser Hilary Hughes of Appetite partner B Arts. 

“We have been out in the park asking people for their memories of the park in days gone by and how they use it now.  These are being turned into a soundscape which is being edited along with sounds from the park and will be played on the day. People will be able to listen to the soundscape through solar powered speakers. 

“We will also be encouraging residents to come and play park games together and we will be making wooden boats to launch on the park lake. 

“While rehearsals are currently underway for the debut of a band made-up of talented local people. We will be encouraging others who play an instrument to join the band as Picnic continues.” 

The team behind Picnic has been working alongside carnival organisers, Tunstall Lions and the Friends of Tunstall Park. 

Two further Picnic events are to be held in Longton and Burslem parks in September and November. 

Picnic is part of the £3 million, Arts Council funded Appetite programme which aims to open up new arts experiences to residents across the city. 

The three year programme will embrace a diverse range of arts from a spectacular circus in Hanley Park at the end of July to community run events. 

The Appetite partnership is led by the New Vic Theatre in partnership with Brighter Futures, B Arts, Partners in Creative Learning (PiCL) and Staffordshire University. 

ENDS 

For media enquiries contact Nigel Howle on 0776 2043436, email [email protected]. 

Notes to Editors: 

Appetite is the Creative People and Places programme taking place in Stoke-on-Trent from 2013 to 2016. Appetite aims to get more people in Stoke-on-Trent to experience and be inspired by the arts. This investment in the arts and cultural sector of the area aims to mobilise and strengthen the skills, knowledge and infrastructure that already exists within the area and provide unprecedented opportunities for more people to see, make and influence more art in the city.   

For further information on Appetite contact Karl Greenwood, Project Director. Telephone 01782 381373 (ext 310)  email [email protected]