The global pandemic has taught us that we need arts and cultural events more than ever. As an Event and Tourism Management graduate, it is hard for me to view a world without the arts because it gives us a sense of belonging and helps us express ourselves as individuals. Cultural events are one of the most important tools to amplify voices and to communicate messages. It is also an opportunity to bring people together and to understand what it means to be human.
“The sheer volume of cultural production, both digital and live, unleashed during the COVID-19 pandemic hints at the social value attached both to artistic expression and “ways of living together” and to the efforts that people will make to connect, both as artists and as art lovers” - (Jeannotte, 2021)
Over the years, Suffolk has hosted many art and music events such as the SPILL Festival of Performance and the Latitude Festival which are both set to return in 2021. There is also FolkEast, 20-22 August 2021 at Glemham Hall, Suffolk. Plus Maverick Festival at Easton Farm Park on 3-5 September 2021.
However, many people do not realise that Suffolk is also home to many writers and it’s growing popularity of literary festivals show it is also a county of readers too. From Felixstowe to Lavenham, Bury St Edmunds and Southwold, Halesworth and Snape; we have festivals all over the county celebrating books, writers and readers. This makes the University of Suffolk a great location to study English Literature with Creative Writing.
An upcoming literacy event is the Felixstowe Book Festival 2021 which will take place over the weekend of the 25th to the 27th of June 2021 with this year’s programme set to host a mixture of socially distance in-person and virtual events.
PrimaDonna is a festival celebrating brilliant writing, music and ideas. Held from 30 July – 1 August 2021 at the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket, Suffolk.
Another event is Pride in Suffolk’s Past: Sharing LGBTQ+ stories past and present, 17th May – 4th July at The Hold, explores the hidden histories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender non-conforming people in Suffolk’s past. Due to legal and social repression these stories have all too often gone untold. Alongside contributions shared by the LGBTQ+ community in Suffolk today and discussion pieces, Pride in Suffolk’s Past presents the experiences of Suffolk residents through a period of significant change in attitudes towards sexuality and gender identity. Book your FREE tickets here.
Follow our #SuffolkScenes stories on our social accounts to see more interesting facts about Suffolk.
Read more information about Suffolk events here:
https://www.visitsuffolk.com/blog/literary-festivals-in-suffolk.aspx
https://www.spillfestival.com/
https://www.latitudefestival.com/
https://felixstowebookfestival.co.uk/
Brandon Orton, Student Recruitment and Marketing Assistant
Reference
Jeannotte, S. (2021) ‘When the gigs are gone: Valuing arts, culture and media in the Covid-19 pandemic’, Social Sciences & Humanities Open, Volume 3, Issue 1
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