PROGRAMME19 - 26 JULY 2019

LONDON

Welcome all to Moon Festival.

Through our inaugural programme we invite you to take a leap into the myriad of metaphors humans have used to describe their relationship to our beloved satellite, the moon.

No other object in human history has ever generated as much culture as the moon which makes an exploration of its symbolism becomes not only intriguing but also essential.

So what is Moon Festival, really? Above all else, it is a celebration of pluralism and diversity and a hub for the curious and the hopeful. Over the past 12 months, this platform has grown beyond our wildest expectations, allowing us to train 20 young creatives, collect, and archive 50 community stories, consult with over 350 individuals, work with over 20 partners and at least 50 artists, commission 7 new pieces of art and present you a rich, diverse and confidently counter cultural programme made up of 16 utterly stellar events. Our deepest thanks to go to our three key funders, National Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council England and Royal Borough of Greenwich who believed in an idea before they saw any numbers to back it. To the borough’s residents who welcomed us with open arms and allowed us to make Woolwich our home. To our advisors who saw the seed of an idea and persevered. And to the most tenacious and creative team I could have hoped for. Their incredible agility and willingness to experiment made the programme what it is.

The level of support we’ve received is a testament to the fact people want to think through many different lenses and see many different perspectives. And at times such as these, this should give us hope. May the moon be the beacon and symbol of that hope.

Livia FiloticoDirector and Founder

Providing strategic support for Livia and Moon Festival has been a joy. Like the moon itself, supporting this project has been inspirational and eye opening. Although not always easy, with some bumps along the way, this has definitely been a story of team success

When Livia asked me to write an opening piece for the brochure, I read her copy and realised she had said much of what I wanted to say. This festival is about people, communities and culture, and the level of engagement that has occurred has been astonishing. No small feat in a debut year! But I will add this. In our current political and social times, we could all learn from the moon and how it centres our daily lives and the ways in which we choose to live them. From the moon’s impact on farming, surgery and our own physiological make up, the moon offers an opportunity for us as humans to connect to ancient wisdoms and future thinking. The project has offered the unique opportunity to learn from communities across the globe about their relationship with the moon and how it might benefit those of us based here in the UK. We hope you find these stories and experiences interesting and inspiring as you engage with this wonderful programme. Personally, I hope Moon Festival touches all who attend and beyond, encouraging us to develop our relationship with the moon and our personal and professional relationships with our communities far and wide.

Congratulations to Livia and the team for pulling this off. To everyone else, before you got to bed tonight, go stand outside, have a moment with the moon and remember we are all a part of the global community the moon unites.

Suzanne Alleyne, Creative Strategist

Programme

Moon Festival is a week long exploration of the moon across cultures, history and disciplines taking place all around the borough of Greenwich between 19 – 26 July 2019.

From astrophysics to moon dials, periods to astronomy, folktales to yoga, Moon Festival invites you to consider and learn about the endless ways the moon has made it into culture since the very beginning of time.

Friday 19 July6pm - 10.30pmGeneral Gordon Square, Woolwich

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The Moon Street Party

W O O L W I C H L A T E

A moon themed street party encompassing music, art, science and food. Among other lunar delights expect a flower installation filling the square with the scent of jasmine, giant tortoise astronauts just chilling around, a tucked away space to whisper your secrets to the moon, astronomy sessions, famous and utterly obscure moon themed cover songs and burgers sprinkled with moon dust.

Free

Extend the moon vibes! Let MBNA Thames Clippers whisk you between the The Moon Street Party and central London in about an hour. A special Moon Express Request Service will depart Woolwich at 10.50pm.

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Nine hours of culture at night. Something few boroughs have

ever witnessed.

WoolwichLate

Friday 19 July 20196pm - 3am

£17.50

Friday 19 July11pm - 12.30amartFix, Woolwich

Lunar Yogahood

London’s first Hip Hop Yoga & Meditation event comes to Woolwich. Expect moves and meditation that slow things right down, a banging playlist, and limited edition Moon Tea on tap. Run by Gyal Flex and Charlie Dark.

Friday 19 July11pm - 2amWoolwich Centre Library

19

A voyage around the moon and its folklore, set to the unique and uncanny sound of the Theremin. Performed by Laura Sampson and sound artist Sam Enthoven.

£12

Eye ofthe Night

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Saturday 20 July12am - 6am

19

20The Moon Festival Midnight Run

This specially commissioned Midnight Run takes the moon as a starting point to explore and celebrate nocturnal life and the sky at night in the borough of Greenwich. Facilitated by Inua Ellams.

£25

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Friday 19 July10.30pm - 3amTramshed, Woolwich

Vibe Under the Moon

A club night inspired by the most soulful aspects of the moon with a strong slant on showcasing Nepalese music talent.

£15

Maverick Women and the Moon celebrates the close relationship between the moon and the women who have left and will continue to leave their mark on culture. Headlined by Margaret Atwood and curated by Irenosen Okojie.

£40

20

Saturday 20 JulyGreenwich University6.30pm - 10pm

Maverick Women and the Moon

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How long does it take the moon to go around the earth? Oh wait… does it?

£5

The Poetry Society and Moon Festival present a host of new moon themed poems written by The Poetry Society’s members and Young Poets Networkers in response to writing challenges judged by poets Kit Fan and Nii Ayikwei Parkes.

£5

The Moon: Mother of Us All

Moon Inspired Pub Quiz

The Moon in Poetry

The Sky at Night presenter and self professed lunatic Dr. Maggie Aderin Pocock discusses why the moon matters and implores us to re-evaluate its importance in science and culture.

£12

Sunday 21 July6pm - 7.30pmTramshed, Woolwich

Sunday 21 July8pm - 10pmDial Arch, Woolwich

Sunday 21 July4pm - 5pmTramshed, Woolwich

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Moon Garden Tours

Lunation Exhibition

The Moon Garden is a concept which expresses both a way of being in nature and a way of relating to the moon. In its 2019 iteration the Moon Garden will be brought to life in two locations: General Gordon Square (curated by Paola Filotico) and Charlton House (curated by Francesca Scotti and the Gurkha Veteran Greenwich Group).

Free

Lunation showcases individuals and communities in Woolwich, expressing what the moon means to them through photography and words. Photography by Sara Hannant and words by Nii Ayikwei Parkes. Curated by Jen Kavenagh.

Free

Monday 22 July4pm - 7pmCharlton House

Opens Monday 22 JulyCharlton House

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£5

Christina Oakley Harrington gives an inside view on how covens of witches up and down the land go out to perform rites at the full moon in the more remote woodlands, stone circles – and even the parks of London.

£12

Duckie presents The Posh Club…in the night-time! A nocturnal special for elegant elders and glamorous golden girls hostessed by London’s Night Czar and subterranean show-lady Amy Lamé.

Institute of Physics

Witches Worshipping the Moon

Posh Club Late

An astronomer and an art historian in conversation about artistic and scientific interpretations of the moon across history and time.

Free

Tuesday 23 July7pm - 8.30pmWoolwich Centre Library

Wednesday 24 July 7pm - 9.30pm Greenwich University

Monday 24 July7pm - 10pmCharlton House

Join us for a night of live performances, food, installations and creative responses celebrating the cultural history around the moon.

Free

Youth Takeover

What are humanity’s legal, ethical, artistic and political rights over the Moon? A space lawyer, a politician, a PR Queen, a space engineer and an entrepreneur discuss.

Thursday 25 July7pm - 8.30pmGreenwich University

Friday 26 July7pm -12amNational Maritime Museum

Do We have a Right to the Moon?

£12

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Night School

The Night school is a programme to get Londoners to shape

and appreciate their city at night through culture, with the

moon as our guiding light. In 2019 the Night School offered

training in cultural production and community research to over

25 young adults, in partnership with the National Maritime

Museum, Museum of Youth Culture and Emergency Exit Arts.

From getting hands on experience of collecting people’s

stories, to learning how to transform these stories into high

quality public performances, our Night School attendees have

contributed to our debut festival in multiple creative ways.

@MOON50FESTIVAL

www.moonfestival.co.uk

Map of Venues Moon Festival Venues

(bit.ly/2RFFp4A)

Moon Festival is funded by:

Moon Festival is run in partnership with:

Moon Festival brand and visuals: