News / Fair Saturday
Bristol first city in England to launch Fair Saturday
Rebelling through the arts is a very Bristol way to go about things, especially when it has the potential to make a big social impact.
And that is how the city is set to become the first in England to launch Fair Saturday.
Held on November 24 this year, the day after Black Friday, it is not only the perfect antidote to rampant consumerism, but also a chance to celebrate and boost culture, connect with different communities and drive social change.
is needed now More than ever
The idea is to host events, gigs, talks and exhibitions in a broad range of venues – from the major players such as the Colston Hall, through to the smallest and quirkiest – on one day.
Each organisation involved will decide on a charity or project to collaborate with and then help support them by spreading the word and raising funds, with a portion of the proceeds going towards the chosen cause.
Organisers have set a target to raise £10,000 in total.
“We need to rethink the way we are building our future,” said Jordi Albareda, the founder of Fair Saturday.
“For that, the Fair Saturday Foundation considers there are two essential elements to build fairer and more developed societies: culture and empathy.”
Fast becoming a global movement, Fair Saturday first launched in Bilbao, Spain, four years ago when Jordi brought together 17 choirs to perform at the same time in different places across the city. By 2017, it saw nearly 600 shows put on in more than 100 cities worldwide.
It was thanks to a chance meeting between Jordi and mayor Marvin Rees in Ohio that the idea to recreate the idea in Bristol was born.
“It just sounds like Bristol – artists coming together to make things happen,” explains Marvin.
“Art is not just about displaying things, it can play a big role in the city. Then there is the element of rebelliousness coming off the back of Black Friday, which is about buying stuff. This is about channelling some of those things that can only happen in the arts.
“It’s an amazing honour to be connected to other places that are doing it and being on a world stage.”
Louise Mitchell, Jordi Albareda and Marvin Rees at the launch of Fair Saturday
Jordi’s vision is to create a mass mobilisation around arts and culture, to support inclusivity and hundreds of social causes. He and his team have inspired many cities, and now a whole country, as Scotland is also set to adopt Fair Saturday for the first time this year.
Bristol Music Trust, which runs Colston Hall, is already on board. Chief executive Louise Mitchell: “We are working on an event that will take place with a prestigious local partner.
“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for Bristol to reach out to other cultural cities across the world and show what we can do that’s really special.
“Arts, and music in particular, can be a real force for social change.”
She challenged other organisations and artists in Bristol to get involved.
Bristol City Council’s arts and events team is organising the day and are seeking involvement from groups, organisations, venues and individuals across the city.
“It’s really open and we want to hear from people involved in arts in the broadest sense,” said Elise Harcombe, senior arts officer. The aim is to expand Fair Saturday out to all corners and communities in Bristol.
For more information on how to get involved, email: info@fairsaturday.org.
Artist Brook Tate, who is getting involved in the day, talks through his work in arts and the wider Bristol community
Main photo (L-R): Louise Mitchell, Brook Tate, Jordi Albareda, Marvin Rees and Paloma Rodrigo, UK project manager of Fair Saturday.
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
