The ‘Not Quite Light Festival’ returns to Salford

The award-winning Not Quite Light Festival has announced that its revival edition will be taking place in Swinton.

The festival will be held between Friday March 15 – Sunday 17 this year and features a “memorable programme built around art, debate, music and architecture.”

The festival will be held across various locations, including Swinton Square shopping centre and the Grand Palais ballroom.

Not Quite Light Festival are eager to return following a “pandemic enforced hibernation.”

They state that they are: “Well and truly back, and promise to bring people together (and) breathe new life into some of Swinton’s spaces.”

They aim to “involve the community in building a weekend of workshops, exhibitions, live performances, talks and guided walks.”

Councillor John Merry, Chair of the Swinton Project Board, said: “It’s great to see an established event like the Not Quite Light Festival choosing Swinton as its home for 2024.

“Swinton has plenty to celebrate, and it also has the potential to be one of the best places to live in Greater Manchester.”

There will also be a performance and soundscape set in the shopping precinct in collaboration with artist Lowri Evans and musician Biff Roxby.

As well as artist Len Grant leading sketching sessions in the precinct.

The Not Quite Light Festival emerged when artist Simon Buckley photographed the “dramatic transition” between Manchester and Salford.

After the first series of events in 2016, the festival went on to win the acclaimed CityLife Award.

Following their early success, the festival decided to expand, and by 2020 it was due to be the biggest to date.

However, due to the covid lockdown, the festival was forced to close down just 10 days before launch.

Simon Buckley, the creative director, is “delighted to bring back the Not Quite Light Festival.”

He is excited to “again have the opportunity to commission some great artists and bring community groups together.”

The festival has led to numerous commissions, including “Dark Days, Luminous Nights” which Buckley describes as a “collaboration of music, performance, stills and film.”

For more information, please contact Tom McGarva Tom@todayissundae.co.uk.