The Horizons Festival put community and artist-led creativity centre stage in HOME, one of the city’s key cultural venues.
The festival connected the creativity of Greater Manchester artists and communities with global stories.
Featuring a plethora of art forms ranging from live music to family-friendly arts and crafts workshops to stand-up comedy, Horizons honoured Greater Manchester’s long-held tradition of celebrating and welcoming international cultures and creativity. This year, the programme evolved to include an exhibition, storytelling, ‘zine making with artists with ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) heritages, a Horizons comedy club and family theatre.
Discover the full programme here.
In a new strand, Horizons featured two satellite events. Didsbury Arts Festival welcomed the Horizons Short Film Programme to its festival line-up with a sell-out event at Cove Bar. Oldham Library hosted two CAN drop-in workshops, as part of the Festival of Libraries, featuring music and drama and exploring people’s heritage with musician and artist Ramez Jabr.
Why Horizons Matters
Horizons Festival evolved from our ground-breaking Exodus programme, which began in 2004 – one of the first programmes of its kind in the UK – celebrating the arts, creativity, global heritage, and the diverse communities of Greater Manchester, whilst also providing a platform for new migrant artists and creatives, including those who have experienced forced migration.
Horizons Festival: Reactions and Reflections
Nothing tells the story of Horizons Festival better than the people who experienced it.
“I enjoyed the sharing of cultures and art. Stories of belonging, love and community.”
“As a grandson of immigrants, I found such a strong connection with the film programme, Horizons Shorts.”
“During such difficult times, it’s great to celebrate diversity.”
The satellite events helped us to reach wider audiences.
“I learned so many new things in a simple and creative way.”
Participant at an Oldham Library workshop.
“I really enjoyed the different experiences, voices, cultures and styles that were represented.”
Audience member at the short films’ night.
“The festival brought together a diversity of heritage and communities, together with such a wide range of creative talent and expression that was so lovely and inspiring to see and experience. The atmosphere of togetherness, collaboration and interaction was amazing, and I feel that both audience and performers left the festival with new knowledge and perspectives of at least one global culture that was different to their own.”
Rodney Adams, CAN Creative Producer
2026’s Horizons Festival was a partnership between Community Arts North West (CAN) and HOME in collaboration with the Arts & Migration group.
This year’s Horizons Festival was funded by The Ivan Cornish Foundation.
