Carlisle  21 November 2009

“…BITE. A morsel, a portion, a taste and a part of something bigger.” - Harley Quinn

On 21 November Carlisle’s residents and visitors can get a flavour of the arts and creativity the city has to offer. The one day festival, ‘BITE’, will showcase works from both established artists and students from the University of Cumbria, as part of Carlisle’s bid for the prestigious UK City of Culture title.

BITE will have a presence throughout the city’s historic quarter with events taking place in The Market Square, the Assembly Room, Foxes Cafe, Tullie House and the Tithe Barn as well as free roaming performance and participatory art works. BITE is supported by Carlisle Renaissance as the latest aspect of the Love Carlisle programme.

The currently vacant Central Methodist Hall will be playing a key role in BITE,  hosting a continuous series of performances and artistic ventures culminating in a culture panel debate, chaired by Radio Cumbria presenter Gordon Swindlehurst.  

The city’s Independent creative sector and the University of Cumbria are working together to make BITE possible. The event is facilitated by Freerange Artists and the University, and is being supported by The Carlisle Arts Festival, SpeakEasy and Carlisle Artists Hub. This event will demonstrate the wealth of creativity emerging from, and supported by both the city and the University, presenting a diverse programme of events that both celebrates the cultural excellence within the city and encourages cultural participation.

Hannah Stewart artist and Creative director of Freerange Artists says:

“This is an opportunity to present some of Carlisle’s cultural offer in a concentrated manner, supporting the UK city of culture bid. This event aims to engage a wide audience in unique and innovative waysand to present art in a way that people will find entertaining, provocative and accessible.  We are interested in authenticity and originality, in pulling together the different strands of community and culture in Carlisle and using the 21st to highlight and celebrate them. This is an exciting chance to try out new working methods and a great opportunity for a range of organisations to work together. “

Charles Mitchell, Dean of Faculty – Faculty of the Arts said:

“This event will be a welcome opportunity for the University to both showcase some of the excellent talent within the Faculty of the Arts in Carlisle, and also to work alongside the city’s independent creative sector in a collaborative venture”

Almost all the events that are part of BITE are free entry and open to all. BITE wants your input in advance too, including looking for a response to Carlisle’s Cursing Stone, suggestions to be sent via the social networking site twitter www.twitter.com/cursingstone. For information running up to the event look up ‘Harley Quinn’ on the social networking site facebook, or check out Harley blog at http://harleysez.wordpress.com/

Also see this, from the local paper: