From animation to origami, woodland cookery to musical saws. 8 specially commissioned Isle of Wight musicians and artists are using all their multimedia means, together with natural world inspiration, to help Hullabaloo bring the Isle of Wight Biosphere and Sandown Bay into bright virtual life for audiences far and wide this June.
Hullabaloo is the Island’s kaleidoscopic celebration of discovery and exploration, science and art plus seaside carnival mayhem all brought together each year in and about Sandown Bay. Rather than cancel 2020’s event due to coronavirus, Hullabaloo’s colourful marquees and parades have been brought online so Islanders can scroll instead of stroll their way through the community-led festival, as well as take part in live activities at home.
Thanks to funding from Arts Council England and Hullabaloo organisers, Shademakers UK and The Common Space, and Down to the Coast too, Hullabaloo’s artists have received funding for projects responding to the Island’s UNESCO Biosphere status, in particular the extraordinary wildlife and landscapes of Sandown Bay.
Musicians Paul Armfield and Jon Thorne will be delivering the ‘Bay Air’ so you can still join the Bay’s special Dawn Chorus Walk and explore birdsong and soundscapes revealed by lockdown.
Graphic designer Claire Speight will translate her well-loved local nature trail – The Willow Walk – into letterpress and book-binding while Quay Arts’ Ian Whitmore’s interest in the Island’s natural history collection will help create a ‘butterfly collection’ at home.
Joining the artists above are Teresa Grimaldi, Lucia Para, Laura Hathaway and Julie Hutchison.
Nicole Hurrell, Hullabaloo and Shademakers’ youngest co-ordinator, said:
“I have lived in Sandown all my life and it’s such an important place to me. When we got the chance to start Hullabaloo, it was such an exciting process to be able to show how amazing the Bay really is.
“Shifting online due to Coronavirus rather than cancelling means we can still go ahead to help people celebrate as well as continue to support our creative community. I’m used to co-ordinating the colour and carnival of Hullabaloo so it’s a challenge going all-virtual, but the artists commissions have really inspired me and I love the aspect of getting any audience, not just on the Island, to join in with this part of the event – here’s to making it all come alive online in June!”
The digital event gets underway on Friday 19th June with a very Happy Birthday to the Isle of Wight’s first year as an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, before the celebrations get underway proper on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June.
Hullabaloo How-To videos are online already so get started making decorations, party food, tents, dens, stages, posters, arenas, bars, costumes etc so you can transform your home into the best arts/science festival ever seen! Tell your friends, tell your neighbours, put the dates in your diary and let’s make Hullabaloo 2020 a festival to remember!
How to take part:
- Follow https://www.facebook.com/hullabalooiw/ on Facebook
- Tune into the ‘Hullabaloo At Home’ website https://www.hullabalooiw.com/
- Don’t forget to use the hashtags #HullabalooAtHome #DiscoveryBay #IsleofWight #Biosphere #Letscreate
