Silver Hayes, one of the areas at Glastonbury Festival, has announced plans to introduce a new addition this year known as ‘The Information’ stage. This new platform is intended to merge thought-provoking dialogue with contemporary music programming, a concept already successfully implemented at the FORWARDS festival in Bristol.
This new initiative from Silver Hayes will be the first time ‘The Information’ stage has been taken on tour. Details regarding the full programme for ‘The Information’ at Glastonbury Festival are still to be revealed, but early announcements indicate that discussions will address a range of critical contemporary issues. Topics to be explored include climate action, the creation of a regenerative planet, the significance of publicity and free press, food vulnerability, and the promotion of inclusion and diversity in the music industry.
The introduction of ‘The Information’ stage represents the latest development in the evolution of Silver Hayes. The aim is to supplement the existing creative programming at Glastonbury Festival with a fresh arena for experimentation and discovery.
Tom Paine, Area Coordinator of Silver Hayes at Glastonbury, conveyed his enthusiasm for the initiative in a recent statement. Paine said, “The next decade of Silver Hayes will push boundaries, look to face global challenges head on with discussion, discovery and experimentation. Silver Hayes has always been at the forefront of new and contemporary electronic music but now we’re really excited to reveal a new iteration that will expand to cover club culture as a whole.”
This statement indicates a broader vision for Silver Hayes, as it seeks to expand beyond its traditional focus on electronic music to encompass a broader understanding of club culture. As we anticipate further details about the programme for ‘The Information’ stage, the new initiative promises to be an innovative addition to this year’s Glasto.
The announcement comes alongside news that Silver Hayes will host an art pavilion for the first time, a unique development to commemorate its 10th anniversary at Glastonbury. The pavilion, titled ‘6°’, will showcase a project that investigates the potential adoption of mycelium, the underground network of mushroom roots, in the creative industries. This initiative aims to highlight the sustainability of this biomaterial and its potential as a replacement for environmentally impactful materials.
The inaugural Hayes Pavilion project will involve multidisciplinary practitioners from various fields including film, TV, set design, and educational institutes like Central St Martins, the Royal College of Art, and Bath Spa University. These participants will engage with mycelium as a practical material, exploring its potential for artistic expression and creative use.
The pavilion will exhibit these creative experiments at Glastonbury, displaying a progression from simple 2-dimensional forms to innovative 3-dimensional applications that challenge the creative boundaries of the mycelium material. The pavilion will also host immersive sound art compositions, reflecting the interconnectedness of mycelium.
Findings from the mycelium project, along with collected carbon data, will be published in a post-festival report to inform the wider industry of best practices. The project is part of a broader aim to position festivals at the forefront of new ideas and sustainable solutions.
The pavilion project is led by Silver Hayes’ Team Love and designed by Simon Carroll from Temple Design Studio, in collaboration with Big Team CIC, Glastonbury Festival, and manufacturers Biohm & Grown Bio. The initiative is also publicly funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Co-organiser of Glastonbury Festival, Emily Eavis, expressed excitement about the innovative installation, encouraging festival visitors to explore the sustainable potential of mycelium at the pavilion.
Phil Gibby, Arts Council England, South West Director, highlighted the council’s commitment to environmental responsibility and support for sustainable design in live events and the music industry.
The Hayes Pavilion will be open to the public at the Silver Hayes field, Glastonbury Festival, from 21st to 25th June 2023. The ‘6°’ exhibition will welcome visitors daily from 12pm to 12am. This new artistic venture is part of Silver Hayes’ evolution in 2023, which will also feature the introduction of ‘The Information’ stage and the unveiling of THE LEVELS, Glastonbury’s newest open-air nightclub.
Image credits:
Anna Barclay
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