Streets of Cov to come alive with new outdoor arts festival

The streets of Coventry are set to come alive later this summer as part of a dynamic new outdoor arts festival.

Imagineer Productions is to launch Streets of Cov, which will bring free pop-up performances of circus, dance, music, theatre and water-based pyrotechnics to the city’s streets.

The six-week festival will run on Fridays and Saturdays from August 16 to September 21 and feature world-class local, national and international acts including the award-winning Cia Kamchàtka, Stopgap, Highly Sprung, Gobbledegook Theatre, Avanti Display and Motionhouse, and comedy from Fraser Hooper and Abi Collins.

Performances will be held in iconic locations across the city including Broadgate, Coventry Cathedral, the Canal Basin, London Road Cemetery, St Mary’s Guildhall and Lower Precinct.

The family-friendly festival, which has been backed by the Heart of England Community Foundation and is being presented in partnership with Coventry City Council, aims to offer a diverse and captivating programme to bring the community together, ignite joy and inspire creativity.

Heart of England Community Foundation, the regional grant-making body for the West Midlands and Warwickshire, is a key supporter of the event and has donated £36,239 to make the festival possible.

Angus MacKechnie, Creative Director and CEO of Imagineer Productions, said: “We are extremely excited to announce the Streets of Cov festival.

“The event will feature top local, national and international outdoor arts companies, including many performers from Coventry and the West Midlands, offering a thrilling blend of circus, dance, storytelling and visual spectacles.

“Audiences will be able to dive into a wild adventure of breathtaking acrobatics and dance, see a tiny painting come to life, watch hilarious comedy acts, marvel at a circus made entirely from bamboo and even meet a six-metre tall slinky!

“Our goal is to engage the local community by providing free, high-quality arts experiences that are accessible to everyone, and elevate Coventry’s status as a leading hub for outdoor arts. No tickets are needed, people can just come along and enjoy.

“We would like to thank Heart of England Community Foundation for its significant contribution towards the event as well as a range of other partners who are supporting us in a range of ways.

“With a variety of entertainment on offer, including the award-winning Cia Kamchàtka from Spain, Streets of Cov is the perfect event for families and individuals looking for an unforgettable experience.”

Tina Costello OBE, Chief Executive of the Heart of England Community Foundation, said: “It is fantastic to be supporting an event which is so heavily focused on arts and culture – something which is so deeply rooted in Coventry.

“We believe that everyone should have an equal right to opportunities to experience arts and culture, and Streets of Cov will provide everyone with the chance to see live performances taking place in easily-accessible spaces.

“We are very proud to be named as one of the key sponsors and can’t wait for the festival to begin.”

Streets of Cov is part of Without Walls, a network of organisations bringing innovative outdoor arts to towns and cities across England.

Further information about the event, including the full programme of performances, can be found at https://imagineer-productions.co.uk/prods/