The fifth Macclesfield Barnaby Festival officiallylaunched on Friday 13 June 2014 in an opening ceremony inMaccesfield’s Town Hall.

In a speech to over one hundred volunteers, supporters,artists and guests, London-based James Berresford, Chief Executiveof Visit England, described Barnaby Festival as ‘one of the best ofits kind anywhere in the country’. Describing his hectic scheduleof high-level strategic meetings across the country, Berresfordsaid the highlight of his week was opening and visiting BarnabyFestival. He described Barnaby as a special programme in a specialplace that breathed spirit and life intoMacclesfield.

Barnaby Chair Lynne Jones, thanked the extraordinaryteam of volunteers, supporters, artists and hands-on ‘doers’ whomake Barnaby greater than the sum of its parts. She extended thanksto Stephen Morris, founding member of Joy Division and New Order,who helped curate the programme of music for the Barnaby BigWeekend and will perform for the first time in Macclesfield towncentre. Maxonian Morris spoke about his delight that themagnificent but disused Christ Church will become a major venue forthe Festival and explained that this year’s Barnaby will be’fantastic and the best one yet’.

Ian Tabbron, Senior ManagerFunding Programmes at Arts Council England, akey supporter and funder, stated that ‘Barnaby Festival embodieswhat is great in the community’ and that it is a microcosm of whatthe Arts Council hopes festivals will achieve. Paul McLeman ofOrbit Developments, another important corporate funder, commendedthe volunteers and community spirit.

Aileen McEvoy, Barnaby Trustee, thanked the speakers,the invited guests, including the Mayorof Macclesfield and David Rutley, MP, and invited the guests tofollow an art trail, visiting over 30 exhibitions and arts fundedcommissions located in wonderful heritage locations acrossMacclesfield. All exhibitions are open to the public and free tovisit until Sunday 29 June.

Tickets for all events, as well as the completelistings for the Barnaby Festival 2014, are available at www.barnabyfestival.org.uk. Tickets are also available fromthe Visitors Information Centre in Macclesfield TownHall.