SALTo Arts Productions
Bringing communities together in celebration, making meaningful things happen and building traditions.
Making partnerships with local groups and individuals helping realise their ambitions for their neighbourhood.
Using modest budgets as the seed to raise private sponsorship and grant funding.
Adding value to existing programmes of development work.
We believe that community activity and celebration knit together allowing new stories to be told about a neighbourhood or a city.
Personal anecdotes become the stories that define new traditions, gradually changing perceptions.
When local people take part in making things happen the community starts to take ownership and works with local authorities and organisations as a partner rather than a passive consumer
Whitley Bay Carnival
Our team have been working with the residents and business community in Whitley Bay in partnership with Whitley Bay Big Local and New Prospects Association to create the Whitley Bay Carnival since 2014.
Since it’s revival, Whitley Bay Carnival has grown from a half day parade and exhibition involving 200 promenaders and an audience of around 2,000 to a two day festival actively engaging over 2,000 participants and attracting audiences of around 30,000 from far beyond the town. The Carnival has contributed to local pride and played a key role in changing the narrative of this seaside town from one of neglect and negativity to pride and optimism.
Whitley Bay Carnival 2024 ‘Leap’
Saturday 25th May 2024 Highlights:
Our biggest ever Carnival Parade 11am Station Road – Links War Memorial via Whitley Road, Park View, Marine Ave.
The Baghdaddies – Northern Monkey Brass Band – Sista Soul – Storytellers ceilidh – Ruck and Roll – Life Guards – Spanish City Rollers
Bahia Carnaval Ball: £10. 18:00 – 23:00 The Samba Reggae All Stars and friends with Olodum’s MD Mestre Memeu, singer Sandoval Melodia part of the Ipade Illu international percussion festival. GET YOUR TICKETS
Sunday 26th may 2024 Highlights:
Bay Uke – Chilli Road Band – Bellavana, – Orchestra Mambo International –
The Beasts of Silly – R’ood, – Football Crazy – Tribo – North Tyneside Pipe Band.
CARNIVAL FINALE 16:00 Bandao Samba Reggae drummers
Pageantry, Mardi Gras and Carnival
North Tyneside Council first commissioned us to produce the children’s Pageant for the Mouth of the Tyne Festival in 2017 and in summer 2018 we began working with Newcastle City Council and Vamos to develop the celebratory community offer in the city.
Bedlington Street Fair
On August Bank Holiday Saturday 2018 SALTo Arts staged the Bedlington Live Street fair with a brief from West Bedlington Town Council to produce an affordable event with something for everyone. Along with live music, street theatre and circus we ran activities from drumming and carnival crafts to cookery and circus skills with Chef Sam Storey making 20 kilos of strawberry jam in the Bedlington Jam Factory with the aid of around 100 local youngsters. Local businesses reported busy trade on the day and stall holders Sea Drift Design had their best trading day of the summer.
