IT will be a space age celebration unlike any previous arts festival in Warrington.

Museum of the Moon – a giant lunar sculpture that has been exhibited all over the world – will inspire a series of events at Parr Hall from film screenings to silent discos throughout October.

But that will not be the only change at Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival which is shifting its focus to family-friendly events and accessibility.

Leah Biddle, cultural manager at Culture Warrington, is keen for the festival to appeal to everyone from art lovers to those who want a night out or a day with the family with a little culture in the background.

The former Bridgewater High School student said: “Our aim for this year’s Contemporary Arts Festival was to create a more diverse programme of events that will attract a wider audience and appeal more to the community.

“The programme under the moon has something for everyone from film nights, to yoga, to gigs.”

The ‘Moon’ itself will be installed by celebrated artist Luke Jerram on October 2 before being unveiled at a gala dinner on October 3.

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Then the public can step under the seven-metre wide, internally-lit Moon from October 4 onwards – either by booking a free ticket or attending one of the many events.

Set to an atmospheric soundtrack by BAFTA and Ivor Novello winning composer Dan Jones, the display captures the mystery and majesty of the Moon 50 years after the Apollo 11 landing.

Leah, 34, added: “It’s such an honour to welcome Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon to Warrington on the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing.

“We’ve had a fantastic summer of space-themed exhibitions and activities at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery and we’re looking forward to extending this for this year’s Contemporary Arts Festival.

“We have themed the entire festival to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, which we felt was a really accessible theme and suitable for all ages.”

This year’s festival is set to begin with a kaleidoscope of light and colour with a fully-accessible ‘Light Night’ on Friday, October 4, giving the Moon’s first visitors more of an experience on their first night.

Queen’s Gardens will be brought to life with a range of interactive sound and light installations and live performances.

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Light Night highlights include Illumaphonium – a huge, hands-on, light-up musical instrument, Squidsoup – an immersive, interactive light display and 2Faced Dance Company – an aerial dance act telling the story of a young man’s encounter with the Moon.

The fun is set to continue on Saturday, October 5, as 2Faced Dance Company head across to the Old Fish Market for two more performances, while Parr Hall teams up with Silent Disco King to present two events under Museum of the Moon – a family-friendly disco and an over-18s dance fest.

Over the next 10 days, Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival will present an ever-changing programme of events under the Moon from storytelling, to club nights, to yoga. Other highlights include a visit from Art Battle Manchester – a dynamic event, which will see 10 artists battle it out in a 30-minute challenge, while visitors circle around and choose who to vote as the winner.

Families will also get the chance to enjoy two space-related blockbusters under the light of the moon as Parr Hall presents ET and Apollo 13 on the big screen.

This year’s festival also offers businesses and individuals across Warrington the chance to get an exclusive preview of Museum of the Moon with a sumptuous gala dinner from The Cheshire Dining Experience. This lavish event will include a talk from artist Luke Jerram as well live entertainment from The Vintage Murphys and DJ Holly Jay.

In addition to a whole host of Moon-themed events, this year’s festival will also stick to tradition with its annual open competition.

Offering a £1,000 prize and a solo exhibition in 2020, Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival will again present entries from artists across the north west in an exhibition, which opens at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery on Friday, October 4, to coincide with the Light Night.

This late-night opening will also offer visitors the chance to discover Let’s Get Stuck in Traffic, the solo exhibition from the winner of last year’s open competition Marie Jones.

This year is also the first to offer a ‘People’s Choice’ award for the open, which will ask members of the public to vote for their favourite entry while visiting the exhibition.

Leah, who previously worked as cultural partnership manager at Warrington Wolves Foundation, said: “We have really pushed the boundaries of this year’s festival and are bringing some ambitious installations and performances to Warrington, as well as taking over public spaces. I’m particularly looking forward to our Light Night event where Queens Gardens will be transformed into a hub of activity for the entire family – it’s not to be missed.”

For the full list of Museum of the Moon and Contemporary Arts Festival events or to book a time to visit the Moon, visit parrhall.culturewarrington.org/whats-on

COMPETITION

We have teamed up with Culture Warrington and Museum of the Moon to offer one reader and their guest the chance to have a meet and greet with artist Luke Jerram on October 2.

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They will also be among the first to see the Moon at the VIP launch at Parr Hall on October 4.

To enter the competition, simply answer the question: In what year did Neil Armstrong become the first man on the Moon?

Send your answers along with your name, address and phone number before 5pm on Wednesday, September 18, after which a winner will be selected at random.

Send an email with the title ‘Museum of the Moon competition’ to competition@nqnw.co.uk.

Usual Newsquest terms and conditions apply.

log onto newsquest.co.uk/terms for full details.