Wednesday 24 December 2014

Lovely Buxton

The Dome - home to the University of Derby, sponsor of the Buxton Festival Fringe

We've been doing this Blog lark for a good few years now and have had over 15,000 hits - so thanks to everyone for taking an interest.
In all that time we've written about all manner of things that are Buxton-related without ever writing about the town itself. I suppose that it hardly needs saying that we love the town and think that everyone else should feel the same way about it. But what is it that we find so satisfying about the place?
In part it is a matter of scale and shape. There is something about the physical sense of place. It is commonly said that Buxton sits in a bowl - surrounded by hills. On the north side Corbar Cross is a striking visible landmark about 400 feet above the town; little more than a mile away, to the south, is Solomon's Temple at a similar altitude. Walking slowly, and taking in the Dome (see picture above), the Crescent, the Opera House, the Pavilion Gardens and Buxton Country Park (as Grinlow is now branded) it is no more than an hour from one landmark to the other. En route you will pass magnificent buildings, trees, gardens and the free mineral water that allows the claim to be made that Buxton is England's Leading Spa Town.
No doubt all this looks better - and is more easily enjoyed - on a dry, warm day with just a faint cooling breeze for company. Some of us say it is an uplifting walk in the wind and rain - and is a special pleasure when snow is on the ground.
A place can be made by its physical qualities alone but a town is a place to live in - to share time and spaces with others. Buxton has a population of around 22,000 - and is growing slowly. This makes it quite small in terms of triggering all sorts of economic developments. The town has no commercial cinema, for example, and many familiar high street brands are missing from The Springs - the undercover shopping centre.
This can be a blessing; if the national and international chains won't provide retails outlets then it creates opportunities for smaller, local and independent traders. Sometimes it is a struggle for businesses but over the last year or so we have seen some evidence that things are picking up. Central to hopes for a Buxton renaissance is the redevelopment of the truly magnificent Crescent. The fifth Duke of Devonshire commissioned architect John Carr to build a hotel, lodging rooms and assembly rooms in the 1780s and the building enjoyed a relatively brief heyday.
Concerns about subsidence resulted in the building being boarded-up about 20 years and cynics have doubted that it would ever re-open - and certainly plans have been slow to develop and it hasn't been easy to secure funding. Finally, though, all seems to be in place. Work to convert The Crescent into a 79 bedroom 5* spa hotel will begin in earnest early in 2015 and should be completed before the end of 2016.
This project will give a huge lift to the town - putting it on the international tourist map. The town will be ready to welcome these new visitors. Buxton is a friendly and resourceful place; yes major Northern and Midlands cities such as Manchester, Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham are but an hour away but Buxton has learned not to be dependent on others. In 2014 the Academy of Urbanism shortlisted Buxton for a Great Town Award. The adjudicators were hugely impressed by the number of groups and organisations that existed within the community, all working to make the most of life in the town.
It is this energy and independence of spirit that makes events like the Buxton Festival and Buxton Festival Fringe possible - a friend from Greater Manchester once observed that "Buxton punches well above its weight." We take this to be a compliment. With some degree and pride, and no little expectation, on behalf on the Fringe, we wish you all the best for Christmas and 2015 and we look forward to welcoming you next July.

Buxton Fringe

Website: www.buxtonfringe.org.uk
Facebook: buxtonfringe
Twitter: @buxtonfringe


Tuesday 16 December 2014

Meet Isabelle Wilkins

There are innumerable pleasures in being part of the Buxton Festival Fringe. One of them is the opportunity to meet young, talented and creative people - and last week we met with Isabelle Wilkins who provided us with the artwork for the Fringe 2015 programme cover and flyer.
Isabelle graduated from the University of Derby Illustration degree course last summer and is now working in a self-employed capacity from home in Barnsley. Isabelle met us at the University Dome on a snowy morning in Buxton and as we went on a tour of the town she told us a bit about her career and her work.
Isabelle said that she chose to study at Derby because she was impressed by the facilities and the attitude of the staff that she met. She has never regretted her choice and keeps in touch with others that she graduated with.
Isabelle explained some of the technical aspects of her design which was built up in layers - using fabric, string and digital processes. Her researches on Buxton images led her to adapt a signpost for Fringe purposes.
Isabelle very much enjoys films and is currently working on a 3-D project - making a suit of armour, inspired by Thor. You can see more of her work on her website. Isabelle is ready and happy to take on commissions and you can see some of the portraiture she has completed.



This pic hardly needs a caption: one young, talented person embarking on an exciting career and some bloke in a hat. Echoes of Isabelle's design which incorporates a Buxton signpost.

There are a number of new entries for 2015 in the pipeline and expect to see them on the online programme shortly. Meanwhile, we have a new interview as part of the Fringe archive. Sheila Barker was involved in organising the Fringe from the very earliest days - 35 years ago. Recently she recounted some of her memories to Stephanie Billen. We hope you find time to listen to the interview.

Buxton Fringe

Website: www.buxtonfringe.org.uk
Facebook: buxtonfringe
Twitter: @buxtonfringe


Monday 8 December 2014

Fringe Programme Cover Artwork for 2015



There are times when we seem to be scarily organised on the Buxton Festival Fringe. Here we are, seven months away from Fringe 2015 and we have the cover artwork sorted!
We're delighted to be able to share this design with you. The artwork was provided by Isabelle Wilkins a recent graduate from the University of Derby, which is, of course, the sponsor of the Fringe..
Isabelle, who is from Barnsley, told us: “I like to work by layering colours and textures such as fabric and string and I wanted to do something bold and simple that invoked feelings of family, excitement and festivity.” We're confident that her design achieves exactly that.
We're meeting Isabelle later in the week and we'll carry an interview with her - and some photos - in the blog next week.
For those of you living in Buxton - or near by - you may want to know about a folk carol concert (with festive readings) at St Mary's Church, Dale Road this coming Wednesday, December 10th. The event is free - but donations to charity are invited - and starts at 7.30pm. St Mary's is a lovely church in the Arts & Crafts style and is a Fringe venue.
Finally, for now, we mentioned last week that next year marks 175 years of well dressing in Buxton. Here - in about 175 seconds - is a time-lapse video of the team working on 2014's petalling in St John's Church.

Buxton Fringe.

Website: www.buxtonfringe.org.uk
Facebook: buxtonfringe
Twitter: @buxtonfringe


Wednesday 3 December 2014

Buxton Festval Fringe: back, ready to go for July 2015



Just in case you didn't know, two important things we need to tell you:
1] Buxton Festival Fringe 2015 will open on Wednesday July 8th and close 19 days later on Sunday July 26th;
2] Fringe 2015 is now open for entries and here at Fringe command we're ready to process your entries and get them onto the Fringe website as soon as we can.
At this early stage just a couple of things to let you know.
2015 is a big year for all things Derbyshire - anyone who is producing something in the county is encouraged to add the slogan "Made In Derbyshire" and the Fringe will certainly be doing that.
2015 is also a special year for a number of people with Buxton connections. It marks the 175th anniversary of the establishment of the craft of well-dressing in the town. The local committee not only dresses the town's wells it also organises the carnival and the procession through the town. They will be planning something special for Carnival Day which falls on Saturday July 11th. In 2014 the Fringe float was awarded a cup - we'll doing our best to win something in 2015.
2015 is also the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Chapel-en-le-Frith Morris Men. They will be organising a day of dance on Saturday July 18th and will be hoping for a dry day. The only wet morning of Fringe 2014 coincided with the day of dance- so all the dancers deserve better in 2015.
Fringe Sunday - our annual free party in the Pavilion Gardens takes place on July 12th this year. [We don't anticipate toning down the orange and we'll just have to hope that we're not misunderstood in any quarter].
We're hopeful that students from the University of Derby (which, we are delighted to say, is continuing to sponsor the Fringe) will lend a hand to make Fringe Sunday - and our Carnival Day Float - better than ever.
At the head of this post is an e-flyer - please share it to remind people that Buxton Fringe 2015 is on its way.
The next blog post - and these will be weekly for the time being - will uncover the artwork for next year's Fringe programme. Excited? You bet we are.


Buxton Fringe

Website: www.buxtonfringe.org.uk
Facebook: buxtonfringe
Twitter: @buxtonfringe