A festival that uses creativity and storytelling to open up conversations about death, dying and end-of-life choices will be coming to east London libraries this summer.
The Afterlives Arts Festival will take place in Redbridge on June 6 and 7 at central libraries in Redbridge, Newcastle and Exeter, following earlier editions in Newcastle on May 8 and 9, and in Exeter on May 16 and 17.
The festival is led by Newcastle City Library and delivered in partnership with Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure, Northumbria University and Libraries Unlimited.
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Martin Solder, chair of Vision Trustees, said: "We are incredibly proud that Vision Redbridge is part of bringing the Afterlives Festival to a national audience.
"As home to the UK’s first Death Positive Library Service, Redbridge has been at the forefront of helping communities engage openly and creatively with conversations around death and dying. This festival reflects the very best of what libraries can be – trusted, independent spaces where art, learning and community come together to support wellbeing.
"We look forward to welcoming residents to Redbridge libraries in June for what promises to be a powerful, thought-provoking and deeply human experience."
The festival builds on nearly a decade of work by the country’s first Death Positive Library Service, launched by Redbridge Library Service in 2017.
In 2019, Newcastle City Library joined the collaboration, expanding the approach to the north east.
Dr Stacey Pitsillides, festival director, said: "Libraries are places where ritual and imagination coincide. Our Afterlives festival will meet people where they are — with art, stories and experiences that make talking about death feel human, joyful and real."
The festival will include 36 events across the three locations, including workshops, installations, talks and performances for children and adults. The centrepiece is Immortelles, a public artwork commissioned from Newcastle-based Moving Parts Arts.
Co-op Funeralcare is a core sponsor and community partner, connecting its national network of funeral directors and Member Activators directly into communities ahead of each event.
Tessa Wiley, business partner, general counsel, Co-op Group, said: "We are excited for the opportunity the Afterlives Festival gives us to continue connecting our funeral directors into our communities.
"Libraries are exciting spaces for collaboration through arts and culture, and we look forward to exploring everything this initiative can bring."
The festival is supported by Arts Council England and aims to reach over 15,000 people across its three host cities.
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