THE annual Weston Arts + Health Weekender Festival is returning to the coastal town this month.

The celebratory festival, which is co-produced by Super Culture and The Arts & Culture Programme, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), marks the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

Emily Malins, Arts Programme manager at UHBW, said: “UHBW Arts & Culture are thrilled to be co-presenting this year’s Weston Arts + Health Festival. 

“Through performance, audio and visual art, special stories will be shared from the staff and patients of UHBW, including Weston General Hospital, that are testimony to the NHS’s unique capacity to generate extraordinary moments every day, even through challenging times.” 

Fiona Matthews, creative director at Super Culture, adds: “Once again much of the Arts + Health Weekender wider programme takes place outdoors in Weston’s inspiring landscape.

"Whether you’re swimming, singing, walking, crafting or simply sitting back and enjoying, join us across the weekend in a joyful, creative celebration of our precious National Health Service in this milestone 75th year.”  

Weston Arts + Health Weekender 2023 is supported by funding from Arts Council England and Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity. 

Programme highlights

Here's some of the activities you can take part in. The full programme is available HERE.

Friday, September 29: The festival will launch with celebratory birthday artwork in The Sovereign. This will be co-created across the weekend by the community with textile artist and healthcare researcher Dr Rebecka Fleetwood-Smith.

This will take place in Unit 27 of The Sovereign throughout the weekend from  10.30am – 4pm. 

Staff at Weston General Hospital can take part in craft sessions, poetry and music in Rafters café. 

Saturday, September 30:  There will be music, poetry, and performances at the Super Wonder Shrine on the High Street between 10.30am and 4pm, with the premiere performance of the new Birthday commission  ‘Listen In: NHS at 75; by the UHBW NHS Foundation Trust Choir.  

Sunday, October 1: Local NHS stories will feature in a soundscape created for SW!M 75, a live synchro co-produced by Diverse City and supported by National Grid’s Community Matters Fund. This will take place at 2pm in and out of Weston's Marine Lake.

At Marine Lake from 12pm-5pm, you will be able to row across the water and lap up a new story commission for Luke Jerram’s installation ‘Crossings’.