Community performers from the Coventry and Warwickshire region are being given the opportunity to showcase their talents at the exciting new GENERATE Festival in August 2021, as part of the UK City of Culture 2021 celebration.

Performance groups including amateur theatre, youth groups, dance groups, choirs and more are invited to apply to appear at this relaxed, fun and family friendly festival this summer, with the theme of ‘freedom’.

Inspired by the RSC’s successful community performance programme The Dell in Stratford-upon-Avon, GENERATE will be held across multiple weekends in August. Performances will be free to attend and will have appropriate safety measures so everyone can relax and enjoy themselves.

Creative Director of Coventry City of Culture Trust, Chenine Bhathena, said: “GENERATE will be a new summer festival that will showcase the brilliant talent and creativity in the city and you could be a part of it.

“Are you a music or dance group, a choir, an amateur theatre group, or have a live performance you’d like to share?  If so, this is a really great chance for all amateur groups of any age, from all cultural backgrounds to perform outdoors, in front of an audience, have some fun and be a part of the City of Culture programme. We want as many performance groups from across the Coventry and Warwickshire region to join in and help to put on a fantastic show, so please get in touch. 

“We can’t wait to show off the local grassroots talent that thrives in Cov.”

Small grants of up to £1,000 per group will be provided to successful community and amateur arts groups who are selected to participate in the festival. 

There will be two GENERATE Festival Application Surgeries in May, when people can meet the organisers and ask more questions before they apply. These will take place on Tuesday 11 May between 6pm and 7pm on Zoom and on Thursday 20 May from 6pm to 7pm in person at The Albany Theatre.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 26 May at 5pm and successful groups will be notified by Monday 31 May.

To book a place on an application surgery or to apply, please click here.