We are delighted to announce that Restoke are joining the Collaborative Touring Network.

Restoke put the people of Stoke-on-Trent at the heart of creative adventures. They make performances, plan events and run workshops alongside people who may not usually meet, forming new bonds of friendship, understanding and solidarity in the city.

Restoke are based in a Ballroom in a former Town Hall, which they restored after its 50+ year stint as a magistrates court.

Restoke join this national network of organisations working in areas with low levels of investment in the arts. Led by The Old Courts in Wigan, partners in our growing network are based in Torbay, Thanet, Gloucester, Bridlington, Peterborough, Bradford and now Stoke-on-Trent. Together we are on a mission to make our towns and cities better places to be through arts and culture.

Since forming in 2013, the Collaborative Touring Network has toured the work of more than 40 exceptional artists and companies to over 100,000 people nationally. In 2023, the network is partnering with acclaimed disabled-led arts company Touretteshero to develop and tour a new live and digital performance called ‘Burnt Out in Biscuit Land’.

Restoke Co-Director Clare Reynolds says – “We are so excited to be joining the Collaborative Touring Network! We feel lucky to have a venue where we can host amazing artists and connect meaningful performances with people in Stoke-on-Trent. We can’t wait to welcome Touretteshero, and to work with the whole network, we’re going to learn a lot!”

As part of this exciting project, the Collaborative Touring Network and Touretteshero are working with arts commissioning body Unlimited and have launched a national commissioning opportunity for disabled artists based in the towns and cities across the growing network.

For more information visit:

www.ctn.org.uk

https://www.theoldcourts.com/discover/ctn-and-unlimited-micro-commission/