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Wandsworth Arts Festival triumphs with over 5000 visitors on final day

Summary:

Around 54 creative projects took place including theatre, music and dance.

By Laura Mitchell

Wandsworth Arts Festival finished on a high with over 5,000 people attending its final event – The Shimmy.

Around 54 creative projects took place across Wandsworth including theatre, art, music and dance. 

The festival, which grew a fringe for the first time this year, is a great opportunity for the community to pull together. 

Helen Renwick, arts manager at Wandsworth Borough Council, said: “Seeing everyone out here is great.

“A hundred or so participants from local groups from the local communities coming to celebrate creativity in all its forms- it’s a real testament to the community being able to come together and show off what they can achieve.”

Among the line up on the final day where Putney Arts Theatre – an amateur theatre group who put on a show and provided cakes and refreshments.

Flatfeet Dance Company, who aim to make dance available and accessible to all, entertained crowds by the Wharf with their young dance group.

“They were brilliant.  It’s great seeing young people having fun and expressing themselves,” said Ms Renwick.

And Street Kitchen on Deodare Road celebrated everything about kitchens and included sample recipes and plate making.

One of the main attractions of The Shimmy was Emergency Exit Arts – an outdoor performance and arts company.

Daniel Bernstein, Executive director at Emergency Exit Arts, said: “We like to make art accessible so we bring it to the people. 

“It’s much more democratic and playful this way and it makes it exciting. We transform an average high-street into a magical new world.”

Emergency Exit Arts worked with the people of Roehampton to create a quirky living room with arts, crafts and poetry. 

Bridget Floyer, of Emergency Exit Art, said: “We work with a support group of people who are having trouble at home and with the community.  We facilitate the communities so they can put on their own events.”

The festival continues to attract more and more people and around 35,000 people attended this year festivities proving community spirit and creativity is flying high in Wandsworth. 

Ms Renwick said: “It’s been a real success it’s been bigger than it’s ever been before.”

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