We were hugely disappointed that the new TOURIST GUIDES for Stoke, the delightful Sandy and Mandy, had to take their lovely pop-up tourist kiosk home, days after launching in the town.  🙎🏻‍♀️🙎🏾‍♂️
But not wanting those super-trendy outfits, and Mandy's gorgeous glasses, to go unseen they've been busy preparing some entertainment for you online instead so that you can view from the safety of your home.
We hope this will brighten up your day in these difficult times.🤩🥳
The Tourist Guides are performed by Scratch & Sniff Theatre

Following the fun launch day of our Spring programme and the sudden developments to restrict social contact the Festival Stoke team members have been busy working out how we can still deliver the lovely events we had planned for the Spring.  Thankfully, the superb outdoor Art Street artworks were installed in time and you can see them around the town centre of Stoke.  
Sadly, the Tourist Guides are not able to go out and about with their pop-up tourist kiosk, but they are working on creating some online performances for you to enjoy at home.  
The brilliant Mapzine will not be available until people are able to go out and about in shops and public spaces, but we will keep them safe in their box, so you can pick up a copy later in the year.
Art Stop workshops are being rescheduled, hopefully beginning in August and running through to October.
Our showcase performance event Mysterious Moth thankfully can be rescheduled for the autumn, and the artists and performers will be busy working on make it a super-special event in the meantime.  (In a safe way of course).
Obviously this depends on how the coronavirus situation develops but we hope to bring you some more lovely, bright and fun arts activities before the year is out. 
And do keep your eye on our social media feeds for upbeat and positive content. @festivalstoke
Take care everyone and stay well.
The Festival Stoke Team 

Coronavirus – advice for participants in Festival Stoke projects and events (groups, staff, volunteers).
We are taking precautions to lower the risk of becoming infected with Coronavirus as much as we can during Festival Stoke activities and events. Planned activities will go ahead as scheduled but if we do have to cancel an event because of Coronavirus, then we will contact you in advance to let you know, where we can. Please check our Facebook Page, social media or website (https://www.festivalstoke.co.uk) for updates. 
 
We ask you to please help us in lowering this risk by observing these steps:

1. Please don’t attend a Festival Stoke activity or event if:

• You are feeling unwell or suspect that you may have Coronavirus symptoms, instead please visit https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 and follow medical advice.
• You have recently visited an at-risk country and have not yet self-isolated. Information about international travel and self-isolation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas-with-implications-for-returning-travellers-or-visitors-arriving-in-the-uk

1. If you have attended a Festival Stoke activity or event and then feel unwell afterwards, please visit the NHS111 link above and follow medical advice. 

 
If any of the above steps apply to you then it’s really important to let Festival Stoke know about the situation. Please contact us on [email protected] or 01782 714776.

Festival Stoke Spring Programme opens with the launch of Art Street on Saturday 14th March
11am - 3pm, Stoke town centre.

Art Street will feature multiple large artworks in the town centre and main streets of Stoke:
'Essence' celebrates the secret stars of the city with fantastic sculptures created from natural and upcycled materials.
'Surfaces' highlights the town's favourite buildings with bright hand-created graphic banners.
On the day there will be:
Mapzine guided walks around town including viewing the Art works with the zany 'Tourists' street theatre.
The Tourist Guides street performers will be on hand outside the library with lots of information and will take you on a guided tour of Art Street! 
Free Bean can decorating and planting at Art Stop with Rachel Ballard and Jess Byron and ‘Space to Connect’ Cafe at Bread in Common. (Both at 72 Hartshill Rd). 
​Artist Shiv will be doing a creative Moth activity in the market.