MOSSLEY has ambitions to become the Tameside’s cultural capital.
Town councillor Pat Mullin believes that is feasible given the huge array of artistic talent that can be found within Mossley.
And with the of the Covid-19 pandemic hopefully in sight, Mossley has various independently organised events scheduled to take place this summer.
A spoken word festival, originally planned for the end of May, has been rearranged for the weekend of July 10-11.
And the event will be used by poet Jack Horner (aka Leon the Pig Farmer) to launch his new book.
There will be acoustic sets and poetry readings at various venues with The Butchers Arms, Britannia and The Gillery already confirmed and others likely to participate.
Town councillors Mullin and Frank Travis, Dermot Gill, Tom Dyson and Dave Jones are all involved in the organisation.
And running in tandem will be an inaugural Mossley walking festival between July 7-11.
There will be various routes, including a half-day eight mile walk of the town’s boundary.
Some may be guided but others can be done independently given social distancing measures.
Cllr Mullin is also looking to stage a Rainbow Festival, maybe in August, to mark the end of the pandemic.
He first suggested the festival last year following the cancellation of traditional annual events like the Whit Walks and Whit Friday brass band contests to help fill the void.
Cllr Mullin said: “There are lots of activities going on and I have been staggered by the enthusiasm and response.
“We are lucky to have a lot of great artistic practitioners in the town, whether it be Leon Patel at The Vale, artist Chris Cyprus or playwright Mike Harris.
“The great beauty of these events is they are advancing genuine community activities rather than being parachuted in from elsewhere and we do not have to stray far to find practitioners and local performers.”
Cllr Mullin added it is important when developing cultural events, they appeal to the whole community.
He continued: “We are looking to create a cultural development strategy which is useful, pertinent, relevant and enjoyable.
“We are not just looking at the high end but one which appeals to everyone, schoolchildren, youths to local bands, MAODS (Mossley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society) and singing groups.
“We have such a varied mix and that makes the area so special.”