- Venue
- James' Cafe Bistro
- Starts
- Thursday, June 2, 2022
- Ends
- Sunday, June 5, 2022
- Address
- 5 East Bond Street, Leicester LE1 4SX
- Location
- East Midlands
- Organiser
- Vehicle Arts
This will be right ‘Up Your High Street’
6 Independent Cafe’s across the city will be taken over by 7 artists as they create installations and interactive workshops for the Jubilee weekend.
Up Your High Street is brought to Leicester by Vehicle Arts and is funded by Arts Council England using funds from the National Lottery. The event will see seven diverse emerging artists take over six independent cafes throughout Leicester City Centre throughout the Jubilee weekend between the 2nd – 5th June 2022.
The venues include James’ Cafe Bistro on East Bond Street. The Big Difference on the High Street. Prana Cafe on Horse fair Street. Exchange Bar on Rutland Street. The cafe at the Curve Theatre also on Rutland Street and St. Martin’s Coffee Shop on Cank Street. Each venue will house an artist each over the jubilee weekend.
Rebecca Harvey-Hobbs From Vehicle Arts says; “Up Your High Street brings together artists and businesses in Vehicle Arts latest beyond-the-gallery project. With huge thanks to Arts Council England this is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the Jubilee!” She continues, “There will be a wonderful array of creative art interventions for the public to enjoy by some incredible emerging artist. Who are inviting the public to get involved in creating and making in unexpected places”
The artists involved range from sculptors to illustrators and promises a varied and exciting program of exhibitions and workshops.
Artist Steve Chapman will be taking over The Big Difference with what he calls a super sized colouring book, inviting the public to join him in creating his interactive bird installation. Between the 2nd – 5th June Steve will create an intriguing mural of birds in his signature style giving the opportunity for people to pause and join in the creative process by colouring in and even name the make believe birds allowing the bigger mural to emerge naturally. Becoming a piece of art that is owned by nobody and everybody.
James’ Cafe Bistro on East Bond Street will house Artist Tracey Meek. She will create a fun, colourful paper and mixed media installation with illustration at its core, focusing on what Tracey calls “tea cup conversations” by creating Dioramas of the fleeting chitter chatter heard in cafes. Colourful teacups will literally spill the tea, capturing snipers of conversations and speech bubbles will hover above the tables inviting visitors to add their thoughts to the suspended soundscape.
Pickle Illustration will be settled in at The Exchange Bar over the jubilee weekend bringing to life ‘A Taste of Home’ The illustrators are asking local people to get involved by describing the object in
their home that makes them feel most ‘at home’?. These items will then be illustrated and showcased in an ever evolving installation celebrating all that makes us feel we belong in a space.
Sculptor Caroline Bugby will take over Curve Theatre Cafe with a colourful celebratory installation inspired by connection. Vibrant suspended forms will adorn the cafe space mirroring Leicester’s urban landscapes. Caroline will invite patrons and visiting public alike to make their own smaller versions of these sculptures to then add to the growing installation.
St Martins Coffee Shop will see two artists in residence over the Jubilee weekend. Chandni Mistry will bring ‘A Show of Hands’ to life. Inviting what Chandi call’s ‘Leicester melting pot of cultures’ to share their own joyous stories. The installation will teach participants how to write stories in a simple way, using the fingers on your hand.
Mixed-media artist, Rebecca Harvey-Hobbs, invites visitors to have tea with the Queen and many other of our Greatest Britons at St Martin’s Coffee Shop in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee during Up Your High Street.
Ali Carpenter-Hughes will take over Prana, inspired by its ambience and owners, Sukh and Andie’s love of nature, Alison will be weaving together different textiles and mixed-media techniques to create an organic and delicate centrepiece to enjoy. Visitors and patrons alike will get the chance to add to the installation and watch it grow over the weekend.
As well as all the interactive art interventions Up Your High Street has the added bonus of Northside bikes offering free Dr. Bike services outside James’ Cafe Bistro 2pm – 5pm on Saturday 4th June. There will also be workshops happening in James’ Cafe Bistro from Kristen Rollinson, Tracey Meek and Caroline Bugby with a special live art performance by Chloe Bates.
For more information on what is set to be a fantastic free family friendly event with loads to get involved in please visit www.vehiclearts.uk
