ST HELENS

Background • 2nd February 1868 Queen Victoria granted the Charter

of Incorporation • Borough was 4 Townships (Eccleston, Parr, Windle and

Sutton) • Became a municipal borough in 1974 (10 Townships) • 2018 is the 150th anniversary of the borough

Other anniversaries in 2018 • 2018 is also the 70th anniversary of our

partnership with Stuttgart • 10 years since Liverpool was European Capital of

Culture • 70 year anniversary of the National Health

Service • 100 years since the end of World War I

Strategic aims

•To raise ambition and aspiration •To grow the economy •To develop sustainable health and social care

•To be better connected

Specific objectives of celebrations • To promote the new borough narrative,

“culturally centred”, “the educated choice”, “from industry to ingenuity”

• To increase participation and civic pride • To raise awareness of the history and heritage of

the borough • To establish a legacy programme

EVENTS PROGRAMME

Events programme January 2018 • 21 Jan – Winter Walk down the Sankey Canal, first industrial

canal in Great Britain

• 25 Jan – “Where Things Are Different” public arts installation on the Sankey Canal

Events programme February/March 2018 • 2 Feb – Civic Performance Dinner hosted by the Mayor of St

Helens

• 4 March – St Helens 10K Run

• 24 March – Sinfonietta Musical Celebration with Primary Schools and Youth Brass Band

Events programme April 2018 • Opening of new Skate Park “Bliss Park”

• 12th and 13th April – Town Centre Skating event • 16th, 17th, 18th – Conferencing element across Tate Liverpool and St

Helens Town Hall

Events programme May 2018 • 13 May - Beating the Bounds – walk of the borough boundary-

70 km challenge

• 19 May – St Helens Day, Mayors Parade (Poss 26th May due to Royal Wedding Clash)

• 20 May – Pentecost Event (St Helens Faith Sector)

Events programme Summer 2018 • 2/3 June – Westfield Street Music Festival

• 23 June – Armed Forces Day (Victoria Park)

• 6/7 July- International Food and Drink Festival (celebration of

twinning)

• 9/10/11 August – In the Street performance event

Events programme September/October 2018 • 7/8/9 Sept – Heritage Weekend

• 8 Sept – Explosion of Dreams – digital light event at The Dream

• Oct 2018 – “Helen” arts event focused on creating arts

experiences with women, working with Dublin based ANU productions

Events programme November 2018 • 5 November – Spark in the Park – community fireworks event

• 11 Nov – Battles Over: Beacons of Light tribute – national

programme based on the light of hope that came out of the darkness of war (end of WW1)

• 17 Nov – Christmas Lights Switch On

Events programme December 2018 • 8 December – Light Up St Helens – digital light show on St

Helens Town Hall

• 14 December – Wrap Party at The Citadel Arts Centre

Events programme Take over festival • Festival curated by Frank Cottrell Boyce • Turning St Helens into a creative landscape

• Work in shops, public spaces, venues, homes, the college, taxis etc

• Episode One April – May 2018 • Episode Two Nov- Dec 2018

Schools • “Creative Schools” initiative, including special 2018 category in

Youth Open Art competition (and Open Art competition)

• Heritage programme linked to Heritage Lottery Funded Community Archive project

• “A Song for St Helens” being composed

• Live Skype event between partner town schools?

Exhibition • 2018 Exhibition

“From Industry to Ingenuity”

• Curated by Yellow Door Artists will celebrate the journey of St Helens the place, including twinning arrangements with Stuttgart and Chalon

www.sthelens150.co.uk @whatsonsthelens #StHelens150