Unusual encounters on Dudley High Street: Radio Public Festival, 9 July 2022

On Saturday 9 July, Dudley High Street will burst to life with opportunities for unusual encounters and dipping into some hands on doing and making. They are all part of the Radio Public Festival, a free, one day celebration and exploration featuring sound, installations, walks, talks, performances, workshops and transmissions. You are warmly invited.

A group of 8 local artists have been coming together over the last five months to create new and different ways people can experience Dudley High Street, and consider unexpected future possibilities and potential for this place. A number of activities have already taken place, with local people making all kinds of things which will feature in the festival.

Street texture print making ~ created in a Radio Public workshop on 11 June 2022

Radio Public Festival: Saturday 9 July 2022

Between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 9 July you can:

🛋 Make yourself At Home on the High Street; a comfortable sitting area with cushions on benches made from fabric designed by local people at Radio Public printing workshops will pop up outside our CoLab Dudley space ay 201a High Street (opposite Nationwide).

🪴 Listen to Plant Talk; a plant/sound installation which emerged from conversations about what plants people would like to see on the High Street and the benefits of talking to plants.

🎨 Take part in Explore and Draw is a walking/drawing workshop around the High Street

👂🏽Hear  a sound installation called My Feet are my Ears based on a sound meditation workshop with the Choir at Top Church.

🗺 Contribute to Dan’s Map; a mobile map of potential cultural activity on Dudley High Street.

🎵 Enjoy a performance of Chatterbox, a song written and performed in response to conversations overheard on the High Street.

Radio Public is created by Helen Garbett and Bill Laybourne of Workshop 24. See more at workshop24.co.uk/radio-public

Helen and Bill are working with Dudley CVS as Creative Partners through CoLab Dudley. They said:

“We have found common ground with CoLab Dudley, an experimental form of social infrastructure, aimed at creating places and experiences on the High St that are open to everyone. In October 2021 we were invited to become Creative Partners with CoLab Dudley. We acknowledge the many years of social research and experimentation that has gone before us, which we now build upon. We recognise the context of Dudley High Street, its multiple stories and realities, its people, history, identity and culture. Let’s make some new stories.”

Radio Public is supported by CoLab Dudley, Creative Black Country and the National Lottery Community Fund.