This month saw DISTANCE finish its journey in Newcastle. DISTANCE was a Festlab residency between LIFT, Homo Novus and Wunderbar as part of the Festivals In Transition (FIT) network, supported by the EU Culture Programme and Arts Council England. Below is a short reflection by the DISTANCE team on their time spent in Newcastle.

‘We finally made the last leg of our 3 month journey between festivals Homo Novus, LIFT and ending with a warm welcome in Newcastle at Wunderbar. And what a wonderful journey it has been.  Peter J. Evans made his first appearance in the festival as his work returned to be exhibited in his hometown. Field Broadcast joined us and finally met Séan Maltby, their Newcastle collaborator after months of working at a distance. Maayan Amir ( from Extraterritoriality) continued their Trespassing in all the host cities, whilst Valters Sīlis visited the UK for the second time and took up camp at the local studios to share his tales and thoughts as a zoo keeper.  Food and discussion continued again with our festival cities brunch of Latvian cheeses, Stottie breads and other delights.

With, 2360 Miles travelled Hand to Heart, Sorrel and Laura did the final count of the accumulated miles walked by participants over the three locations, a good team effort of 60 miles! We heard from Steve Levon Ounanian as we lay in the courtyard under stars and fireworks as he attempted his third Peak Anxiety Satellite experiment.

 

We closed the weekend (Nomadi and Steven Ouinanian joined us via skype and Valters was already heading home but on the end of the phone) as Rebecca Beinhart sent us all off on our merry way with her three- city potions of Balsam, Gin,  Honey Mead and some great hand picked herbs and berry juices.

 

The DISTANCE team are having a moment to digest and reflect on what has been a fantastic three months of working with some amazing artists and festivals hosts, whilst thinking about the next adventures…’