NOTTINGHAM, UK.-Throughout November, venues across Nottingham city centre will play host to an ambitious new showcase for the visual arts – the Tether Festival. Galleries, shops, cinemas and some more unusual venues will present a wide selection of exhibitions, one-off performances, events and screenings. There will also be a publication of specially commissioned creative writing.

The Tether Festival aims to promote the talents of the young creative workforce within the East Midlands, while building upon what is an already a vibrant arts scene.

Artists involved in the festival have been encouraged to create experimental and innovative art works, with the emphasis placed on collaboration.

The organisers of the Tether Festival, Hugh Dichmont and Samuel Mercer, both graduates of Nottingham Trent University, are passionate about involving the local community in the festival and particularly showcasing the work of the local student population.

Hugh: “At a time when the cultural landscape of Nottingham is changing – and the city faces a transitional period as new art galleries and art buildings are developed – we feel the time is right to promote local talent and the wealth of exciting art activity underway in our region.”

Samuel added: “We hope the Tether Festival will inspire the people of Nottingham to learn more about the city’s role as a thriving, supportive environment in which to be creative, a place which truly raises the aspirations of local cultural practitioners.”

One of the main purposes of the festival is to give students an insight into the organisation of public art events and first-hand experience of showing the visual arts in the public realm. The organisers hope it will create a platform from which Nottingham can retain more of its talented young graduates in the future.