Love in the Market: A Celebration of Creativity and Community

Join in a brand new event "Love in the Market" that will see live music, puppetry, performance and free family entertainment come to Ashton Market Hall on Saturday 8 February.

Created, designed, organised and delivered by creative industry students at Tameside College, supported by Tameside Council as part of Curated Place's new professional development programme "Tameside New Creatives". This unique celebration of local talent and community spirit will transform Ashton Market Hall into a vibrant cultural hub alongside great food, drink and the infectious energy of the market traders.

"Love in the Market" promises an unforgettable day filled with diverse live performances from local bands, captivating puppetry, and interactive crafts - all designed to engage and inspire audiences of all ages.

Event Highlights:

• Live Music: Enjoy brilliant toe-tapping performances from The Retro Pops, a dynamic Postmodern Jukebox band blending pop classics with Jazz and Latin twists, alongside soulful melodies from Rumbi Tauro, a rising star with accolades from BBC Introducing.
• Theatre and Puppetry: The League of Curiosity will present "The Winter Flower," a charming 20-minute puppetry performance for children aged 5-10.
• Creative Workshops: Hands-on activities including Valentine’s themed print making, workshop led by local artists and illustrators.
• Photography Exhibition: "Stories Behind the Stalls," a compelling showcase of Ashton Market traders, curated by Tameside College students.

This event marks the culmination of months of hard work by students from Tameside College as part of the "Tameside New Creatives" programme. This initiative, supported by the UK government through UKSPF, aims to bridge the gap into the arts for underserved communities by equipping young people with the skills, experience, and networks needed to thrive in the creative industries and to bring local spaces and places to life.

"Love in the Market" is more than just an event; it’s a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity in fostering community spirit driven by a new generation of talent in Tameside. Attendees are invited to immerse themselves in this celebration of local culture, making memories that will last a lifetime.

Councillor Leanne Feeley - Tameside Council Executive Member (Lifelong Learning and Culture) said:
“This event will really showcase the hard work undertaken by the students and the brilliant practical skills they have learned over the last few months. The UKSPF funding for this event has offered a fantastic opportunity for the students involved to nurture their creative skills and play a starring role in creating a new cultural event for Tameside for all the community to enjoy. It will be great to see the event bring more visitors into Ashton town centre and support our local traders while transformation work is ongoing.”

Andy Brydon, Director of Curated Place
"Thanks to the trust and support of Tameside Council, Tameside College and the UKSPF funds Love in the Market is bringing something new to Ashton, giving young people the chance to work with real budgets, professional artists and experienced mentors to bring their ideas to life. Our participants have embraced the opportunity to be the creative voice of their town and shown that by empowering a new generation to take agency in the creative identity of Tameside incredible things can happen and creative careers bloom."

Date: Saturday, 8 February 2025
Time: 11am-4pm
Location: Ashton Market Hall, Ashton-Under-Lyne

For further information, please contact: events@tameside.gov.uk

About Curated Place:

Curated Place is a Greater Manchester-based international arts organisation that connects artists, audiences and place allowing people everywhere to create. With a mission to reshape the UK's cultural sector to one that reopens routes to creative success for people from all backgrounds, they have led numerous UK and international projects driven by professional development programmes, fostering creativity and innovation to leave lasting impact wherever they work. Their work spans 18 countries often working with British Council, focusing on empowering creative communities and maximising the impact of arts funding. By developing talent outside of the typical routes to an arts career they empower new voices to lead and deliver high-quality events that are rooted locally but connected globally. Working with Tameside Council and Tameside College Curated Place is providing sustainable career pathways into the creative industries connecting new voices to lasting support across their extensive national and international creative networks.

www.curatedplace.com | www.creativeproducertraining.com