Save the date for the Festival of Worktown in Bolton

The Centre is preparing a Festival of Worktown in Bolton 14-29 March 2020. A series of events, workshops and exhibitions will showcase current research by staff of the university and students will be supporting a range of activities involving Worktown, engaging the public with the unique historical identity of Bolton with Worktown. The Festival opens on 14 March 2020 with a conference ‘Happiness in Bolton: Let’s share it with the World’ organised by Professor Jerome Carson. This builds upon the innovative survey of happiness in Bolton undertaken by Mass Observation’s Worktown team, and repeated in Bolton 2014 by Professor Carson and colleagues.

Other events include a design workshop based on textile patterns held in the Bolton archives. The University’s English department are offering workshops on creative writing, drawing from the Worktown Archive, and on Walt Whitman’s connections with Bolton. The University’s School of the Arts is currently involved in a project with Bolton at Home, using community drama to enhance the well-being of socially disadvantaged women, who will be performing their self-penned productions in various locations in the town.  Bolton’s Humphrey Spender Photographic Collection, held by Bolton Museum, is internationally acclaimed and the Festival will include an exhibition of northern photography, curated by staff in the Documentary Photography department.

Several organisations in the town are also planning to participate, including the arts organisation ‘Live from Worktown’ and the Bolton University of the Third Age.

Further details will be available in the New Year. All events are free; some will require prior booking.