Art Beats Festival returns to Lancaster to celebrate 20 years of Sunway partnership

Art Beats Festival is returning to Lancaster this September, celebrating 20 years of the Lancaster-Sunway partnership.

The festival is set to take place from 3rd to 6th September, with events taking place both on Lancaster University’s campus and online and remaining open to all.

The themes for the fourth edition of the festival are Crossing, Future Memories and The Power of Two, aiming to explore movement, memory and what becomes possible when different people, cultures and creative practices come together.

Established in 2023, Art Beats is an international festival jointly organised by Lancaster University and Sunway University in Malaysia, alternating its host campus each year. This year, Sunway students will travel to Lancaster University to work alongside its students through workshops, masterclasses and exhibitions.

Works submitted by those outside of the university communities also have the opportunity for their work to be showcased through physical and online exhibitions.

This year’s edition of Art Beats celebrates two decades of the partnership between Lancaster University and Sunway University, which has helped to advance impactful research made by the institutions, strengthen their international profiles and enable staff and student exchanges to be made between the universities.

Festival co-director Dr. Dr Maryam Ghorbankarimi said: “Art Beats started with a simple idea: to create a space where our students could meet, make work together and learn from one another, while also building a platform that connects artists internationally.

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“It feels particularly meaningful to bring the festival back to Lancaster as we celebrate 20 years of the Lancaster–Sunway partnership. The Power of Two could not be a more fitting theme for what Art Beats represents.”

Sky Fong, a Lancaster University alumnus who participated in the festival in 2023 before progressing to festival coordinator in 2024 and 2026, said: “I went to Malaysia as part of Art Beats Festival in 2023, and it was such an eye-opening experience, not only experiencing a new place but also collaborating artistically with Sunway students.

“I am honoured to be working as a festival coordinator. Seeing how other students are becoming just as inspired as I was, is the most rewarding experience.”

The official opening ceremony takes place at 5pm on Friday 4th September at the Nuffield Theatre (Great Hall Complex), with welcome speeches followed by It’s Time To Move, a short performance by Fatima Noor Al Sahar. Guests are then invited to Lancaster University Library for the exhibition and a drinks reception.

Further information on Art Beats Festival can be found here.

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Featured image via Art Beats Festival