Didsbury Arts Festival is back this summer, celebrating the best in art and performance from Manchester. Now in its 9th iteration, the festival will run from 27th June to 5th July at venues across the Didsbury area, and in partnership with venues in Burnage and Withington.
Since the charity was established in 2009, Didsbury Arts Festival has become one of Greater Manchester’s largest community arts festivals, with a reputation for welcoming established and up-and-coming artists and performers from across the city and beyond. This summer’s nine-day festival will explore the theme of ‘visibility and invisibility’, bringing to light diverse stories of culture, heritage and artistic endeavour.
Something for everyone
With over 450 applicants to take part, the programme promises an exciting mix, including everything from live bands, choirs and poetry, through painting and sculpture to contemporary theatre, outdoor arts and DJ’s. There will also be talks, workshops and classes so people can learn new things, try something new and remind themselves of the pleasure that comes from creativity and making.
Neil Mackenzie, the trustee overseeing the programme, says there’s plenty for everyone: “We’re very excited about this year’s programme and the way it reflects some of the new art, music and theatre being made across Manchester. Thousands of people come to our festival, and we think this year’s programme offers visitors the chance to see, hear and experience some truly outstanding art and performance.”
Neil highlights just some of the headliners to look out for: “We’re delighted to announce that Manchester’s favourite poet, Mike Garry, will be performing, along with internationally acclaimed local artists and producers Quarantine, and that the extraordinary Belgian company Ontroerend Goed’s show, ‘Handle with Care’, is also in the programme.”
“It’s had sell-out shows around the world and comes hot from Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Milan Triennale and the Wow Festival in San Diego. It’s a unique performance that has no actors, technicians or props, just a simple box is placed in the centre of the stage and the show doesn’t start until someone opens it. What happens from there is captivating. It’s a theatre experience like no other.”
Big plans unveiled for The Big Burnage Parade
For the first time, the festival is working in collaboration with schools, venues and community partners across Burnage, Withington and Old Moat, as well as Didsbury, to re-establish The Big Burnage Parade.
Developed in partnership between Burnage Library, Westcroft Community Centre, the parade will take place on 5th July. It will follow a route down Burnage Lane and past Westcroft Community Centre before ending in a finale in Fog Lane Park, which is celebrating its centenary this year. It will feature music, dance and special artwork produced by hundreds of school children from Burnage and around.
Rachel O’Dowd, Community Development Worker at Burnage Library, says: “Walks and parades are built into the heritage of Burnage, and have always been used to celebrate all that’s great about our community. There is so much to be proud of in Burnage, which is why we want to re-establish the tradition. We’re planning a celebration to remember, and we hope it will become a regular thing.”
“The parade will feature a huge, three metre inflatable fish made of recycled plastic,” says Neil. “Waste2Waves, led by local artist Toubie Jack, is an ambitious community project turning soft plastic waste into a giant fish sculpture. It’s a great way to get children thinking and talking about “sustainability whilst also being creative.”
Toubie Jack adds why she wants to use art to drive the cause for less plastic waste in our economy: “According to a recent report by The Big Plastic Count in 2025, the UK is throwing away an estimated 1.7 billion pieces of plastic every week – that’s 90 billion pieces a year.”
“Recycling the plastic isn’t the greatest solution due to the vast quantities of waste that are generated. Projects like this offer a new perspective on using this waste creatively, sparking conversations, igniting imaginations, and potentially changing habits. The children we’ve worked with have enthusiastically grasped the concept and creative challenge, and I’m sure it will be awe-inspiring for them to see their work on public display.”
There’ll also be a photography exhibition of work by Parrs Wood High School GCSE students, led by Chorlton-based documentary photographer, Mark Hobbs. The project has run throughout the Spring term, exploring the theme of Invisibility/Visibility. This project has been made possible thanks to the generosity of Creamline Dairies, Ward Hadaway, Choice Home Tutoring, Paul Andrew Jones Interiors, Joyful Orthodontics and Realm Property Finance.
The full festival programme and parades have been made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England, Benefact Group, Manchester Guardian Society, and local business sponsors, including Biffa, Great Minds Together, Philip James Kennedy and Nebular.
You can find the full programme, get tickets, latest updates, and become a volunteer, all at www.didsburyartsfestival.org
