New young people's festival in Lancaster to celebrate our heritage

A new festival showcasing the work of 11-18 year-olds and celebrating the heritage of our local area is coming to Lancaster.

The Heritage Market Festival is a one-day free event this Sunday (December 17) in Market Square from 10am to 4pm.

Set amongst the bustling backdrop of Christmas shoppers, the free festival is set to offer live performances and music as well as gift stalls, crafts, exhibitions and more.

The event is the culmination of an autumn programme of workshops for young people run by Lancaster youth charity Escape2Make.

These have focussed on skills such as tattoo design, woodworking, jewellery making, virtual reality, pottery and photography.

Beyond Radio has also teamed up with Escape2Make on a series of workshops called 'Podcast Our Past' where youngsters have been learning how to create their own podcast based on the history of our local area. The podcasts will be available to listen to, at Sunday's event.

Escape2Make (E2M), a creative youth charity for 11-18-year-olds in Lancaster and Morecambe, is thrilled to announce its first ever Heritage Market Festival, a one-day free event set in the heart of Lancaster, produced and hosted by the young people themselves for everyone to enjoy.

All the workshops are intertwined with Lancashire’s rich cultural heritage, with heritage experts from Lancaster City Museums supporting young people to learn about the region’s past whilst building tools for their future.

The project works to preserve and celebrate Lancashire’s rich cultural heritage whilst empowering local youth to develop new creative skills, increase social time outside of school and perhaps discover a purpose or two.

"We wanted to offer the young people across Lancaster and Morecambe the opportunity to not only develop their creative skills but to also forge their own space within their community," said Saul Argent, chief operating officer of Escape2Make.

"Without enough dedicated social spaces for them to thrive, the Heritage Market Festival is a chance for them to showcase just how innovative, creative and compassionate young people are.

"With 73 per cent of young people spending most of their free time on screens, we knew that E2M had the chance to collaborate and make something great with them.”

The festival was made possible by a grant of £75,600 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

You can book your free Eventbrite ticket for the Heritage Market Festival here.