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Our Accessible 1 Week Programme
Lasting 1 week across various local venues, our programme is made up of multiple art forms and activities guaranteed to pique people’s interests.
Our aims are to make sure that every young person in Swindon:
- can access Signal Festival.
- sees themselves reflected and represented.
- feel more positive about themselves and about Swindon.
- to be the start of conversations, creative collaborations and civic change.
Meet the Producers
Each year's Signal Festival team is made up of a diverse group of young people who are commited to making change and opening people’s minds to what Swindon can offer.
"Signal Festival is important because young artists need the opportunity to showcase their talents, and… Read more
'Being a local performer, I have seen first hand the immeasurable passion and talent there is in Swindon… Read more
"Signal Festival is a vital opportunity to transform and create relationships between young people and… Read more
"Signal Festival Swindon is important to me because everyone deserves to be able to explore the arts… Read more
"Signal is important because it marks the beginning of a new chapter for Swindon. Bringing all the local… Read more
"Signal is important to me because having the opportunity to develop your artistic practice from an early… Read more
"Signal Festival is important because in Swindon it is so difficult to know where you can go as an artist… Read more
Clarissa Boyce-Johnson (she/her)
Founder Producer / Young Producer
"Signal Festival is important because young artists need the opportunity to showcase their talents, and individuals who are wanting to pursue a career in art can be guided in the right direction. There’s also the need to show everyone exactly what Swindon has to offer because a worrying amount of people (particularly young people) are unaware of what is happening in the local art scene and are of the belief that you need to leave town in order to explore the arts. Signal Festival was created to prove those assumptions wrong.
I’m looking forward to seeing what Swindon has to offer; both from local individuals and art companies. I am particularly excited to see what our local musicians are like."
Louise Aust (she/they)
Young Producer
'Being a local performer, I have seen first hand the immeasurable passion and talent there is in Swindon and I am proud to be part of a festival that highlights opportunities for young people and showcases all the wonderful things they have to offer to the creative arts!'
Arlo Carter (he/him)
Founder Producer
"Signal Festival is a vital opportunity to transform and create relationships between young people and art. Personally, my experience with art came to me a little later than others when I joined a local youth group. It was a gateway to my artistic journey and one I wish could still be around. With budget cuts, lack of funding in schools for the arts and pressures on organisations to survive, Signal Festival is a lifeline to call out to all organisations and young people to get rid of any barriers between communities and art, celebrate Swindon's incredible artists and encourage Swindon to become a place we are proud of.
I’m most looking forward to the development and wider reaches of the festival as it grows over the next few years. I’m excited to be a part of a team that is going to be the spark for young people’s artistic journeys."
Erin Fletcher (she/her)
Founder Producer
"Signal Festival Swindon is important to me because everyone deserves to be able to explore the arts and themselves through art. Young people in Swindon deserve to live in a place that believes in them and celebrates their brilliance. Swindon is home to so many incredible artists who deserve to be celebrated and all artists should feel confident and secure in calling Swindon home, knowing that it has a place for them.
I’m looking forward to seeing the connections that people make and the buzz of exciting things happening in Swindon."
Morgan Thomas (she/her)
Founder Producer
"Signal is important because it marks the beginning of a new chapter for Swindon. Bringing all the local companies together and highlighting all the opportunities that are present in Swindon feels like a fresh start for local young creatives. Signal puts the emphasis on young people in a way that gives them authority and agency to ask for exactly what they need and are owed from local & national organisations.
I’m looking forward to seeing the after-effects of Signal, particularly which companies it interests, which young people it inspires, and what actions they take."
George Sargent (he/they)
Founder Producer
"Signal is important to me because having the opportunity to develop your artistic practice from an early age is fundamentally essential. Signal being a platform to champion and facilitate young creatives, much like Prime did for me, will only result in a positive impact on their worlds and shows that it is possible to be an artist in the modern day.
In a time where apathy is so prevalently documented amongst people in this town, it is more important than ever to have something that stands in opposition of it; that for me is Signal."
Riley Mathers (they/them)
Founder Producer
"Signal Festival is important because in Swindon it is so difficult to know where you can go as an artist or someone who is interested in art. There are so many things out there and yet unless you’re in the know, you don’t know about this. Something like Signal Festival will be able to showcase all the brilliant art things that are already here and showcase new talent that is ready to bloom. I look forward to seeing what new ideas spring up and watching new artists come forward, inspired about what they see."
Where did it all start?
In January 2024, a team of young artists were assembled to create change in their local community. They were asked to think of what they would’ve wanted to see as kids growing up as budding artists in Swindon; a place previously deemed to have nothing in terms of support or careers in art. The events and activities that they have brought on board are all things that will help the current generation of young people fully explore their potential in their hometown.
Events“Showing everyone what Swindon has to offer!”
There’s the need to show everyone exactly what Swindon has to offer because a worrying amount of people (particularly young people) are unaware of what is happening in the local art scene and are of the belief that you need to leave town in order to explore the arts. Signal Festival was created to prove those assumptions wrong.
“Congratulations Swindon”
Signal Festival is one of the most important creations in Swindon's arts scene. We've been blown away by the passion, talent and achievement of the young team.
“Give young people a chance”
I started as a performer and this is my second year as a producer. It's been really fulfilling creating opportunities and showcases for young artists across all strands.
“I'm excited about the future!”
I’m most looking forward to the development and wider reaches of the festival as it grows over. I’m excited to be a part of soemthing that is going to be the spark for young people’s artistic journeys.
“I keep coming back”
For the first year of Signal I was a volunteer. I loved it so much, I came back for the next two years. It is important because it helps others as well as myself to see what is possible for young creatives in Swindon.
Supporters
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