Culture Co-op is developing a new Arts Festival in Heywood with the over-arching theme of mental health, wellbeing, and healthy communities, happening over two weeks this August 2026 between 10th and 23rd.

Our programme delivery is guided by the decisions of local people; via surveys, creative engagement events, and final selection is made by a panel of Heywood Residents in collaboration with the Culture Co-op team.

In June 2025, the panel decided that we would produce a new Festival programme for the summer of 2026 that followed the following principles:

• Experience something NEW

• Experience something UNEXPECTED

• Experience something DOWN-TO-EARTH

After wider creative engagement activities, it was decided that the new Arts Festival programme would have an overarching theme of Mental Health, Wellbeing and Healthy Communities.

A popular idea that emerged from this engagement was that we would create a New Heywood Tradition. This was in part an attempt to counteract negative perceptions of Heywood and a sense of ‘disconnectedness’ amongst local residents. We therefore want to produce something that celebrates the creativity, humour and down-to-earth nature found in the local area.

Another popular idea was the importance of being outside and being amongst nature to good mental health. We therefore have decided to also release a commission that encourages people to venture out into natural spaces (e.g. parks, lakes, reservoirs, etc).

A ‘New Tradition for Heywood’ and ‘Touch Some Grass’ Commissions

Expressions of interest are open for the research and development, and delivery of a “New Tradition for Heywood”, a site responsive art performance, live show, and/or installation in Heywood centre during the two-week arts festival, on Saturday 22nd or Sunday 23rd August.

We also have our ‘Touch Some Grass’ Commission, a creative activity, visual art, and/or installation, set in an outdoor location in Heywood for 1-2 weeks between Monday 10th – Sunday 23rd of August 2026.

We welcome emerging, mid-career as well as established artists in all artistic disciplines. We are open to ideas, but are particularly keen on participatory, engaging, interactive and immersive art and performance, that shows awareness and sensitivity to historic and contemporary life in Heywood.

Submit your interest: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/78F3HVL