For the first time ever, the Streatham Festival will feature online events – as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Streatham Festival 2020 will take place from Friday 9 October to Sunday 18 October with a number of virtual events, as well as a range of physical ones, celebrating all aspects of the arts.
The Streatham Festival organisers are now calling on Streathamites and Londoners to visit the festival website and book tickets and register for some of the many events and activities.
With the arts under such a huge threat from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the organisers feel the festival is needed more than ever.
The local MP for Streatham, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, will be officially opening the festival on the evening of Friday 9 October at the Romantic Cello by Candlelight in St Thomas’ Church, Telford Avenue, Streatham.
The festival has a jam-packed line-up with more events still to be announced:
STREATHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL – A new event to the festival. There will be workshops and readings by writers, publishers, and illustrators – as well as a short story competition. In collaboration with Lambeth Libraries, there will also be events to mark Black History Month.
On Sunday 11 October, Streatham Space Project will host the Streatham Sunday Special – a day of workshops, readings and discussions followed by spoken word, music, and poetry. The Streatham Sunday Special includes a talk and drawing workshop by award-winning children’s author and illustrator, Fran Preston-Gannon. LOUD BLACK GIRLS will be a panel discussion between Abiola Oni and Temi Mwale, two writers from the Loud Black Girls anthology of Black British writing, chaired by Marcelle Mateki Akita. Book a ‘pod’ for two people for one of the events for just £10.
The Literature Festival also includes a fascinating downloadable literature walking tour of Streatham – produced in collaboration with The Ramblers and The Streatham Society, which is also sponsoring the tour. And there will also be a short story competition as part of the Literature Festival.
The Literature Festival is sponsored by Northwood Senior School and the Streatham Society. Streatham Festival is also proud to be working with Tales on Moon Lane bookshop to supply all the books that will be available to be signed at select events.
STREATART20 – Streatham Festival provides a platform to showcase local artists and form links with the many venues and businesses in the area. More than 20 artists have already signed up including Karolina Jonc Buczek, whose work focuses on body positivity and mental health, and bread sculptor Bernardete Blue. There is also a joint exhibition in the Streatham Tate Library.
LONDON CONCERTANTE – After an amazing sell-out series of al fresco concerts in Streatham, the Secret Garden Concerts team bring two candlelit concerts to the festival, plus a Halloween-themed strings workshop for children.
STREATHAM STRUT – Coronavirus restrictions mean the famous Streatham Strut will be a virtual one on Saturday 17 October. Artists and bands include the London-based nightclub magician-turned-rapper, Stigmartyr, Blodyn Bach and the ever-popular Whiskey Kittens.
YOUTH MUSIC SHOWCASE – There will once again be a Youth Musical Talent Showcase for 13 to 16 year olds living in and around Streatham – the best young local singers, songwriters, bands, duos, DJs and musicians will be performing. All artists will perform at the Rock the Rookery event on Saturday 17 October during the day.
STREATHAM LOCKDOWN DIARIES – In collaboration with Lambeth Archives and the Streatham Society, the festival is showcasing and archiving local people’s lockdown art – pictures, photographs, crafts, stories, and more. Please see the website for more details about how you can get involved.
EYE ON STREATHAM – Streatham Festival gets in the right frame of mind by holding a brand new photography event for 2020 – Eye on Streatham! It will be focusing on webinars with experienced photographers, providing beginner workshops and will be a platform for photographers of all levels and ages to showcase their amazing creations. There will also be competitions where the prize will be your winning photograph professionally printed and framed to A3 size. The organisers have even created a dedicated app for learning how to improve your photography skills. A link to the app can be found at StreathamFestival.com/photoapp. Just open the link in your smartphone and save to your homepage!
AND MUCH MORE – There is a jam-packed events calendar that includes stand-up comedy, family events, a tea dance, music classes for toddlers and babies, online chess tournaments, embroidery workshops and many more.
Streatham Festival is hugely grateful to their main sponsors: InStreatham BID, Heart Streatham Magazine, The Vale Living, and Anthony Gold Solicitors.
Anthony Gold Solicitors are not only sponsors but will be hosting a series of webinars during the festival and will offer a FREE 20 minute ‘Speak with an Expert’ on any topic.
