forward thinkers

FORWARD THINKER The on-site photography exhibition spotlightingFORWARD THINKERS forces of tomorrow at FORWARDS The on-site photography exhibition spotlighting the faces and forces of tomorrow at FORWARDS festival fes

FORWARDS - the major new music festival, in Bristol, for the Future - marks its debut this week with FORWARD THINKERS, a new multifaceted portrait series and on-site exhibition spotlighting the influential faces and forces of tomorrow.

Putting forward-thinking conversation side-by-side with an epic music lineup, FORWARDS aims to kickstart a new breed of inner city festival. The newly commissioned series by documentary photographer Chris Hoare, celebrates six of the trailblazing speakers appearing at the inaugural edition of FORWARDS as part of the INFORMATION programme, the festival’s dedicated space for examination and debate on today’s most pressing cultural issues. Following the trajectories and opinions of some of Bristol’s most cutting-edge campaigners and creatives, FORWARD THINKERS is a love letter to the city, told through the individual stories of six changmakers. Driven by the momentum of the contributors, these portraits offer a window into the lives of a future generation already driving change from within Bristol.

The portraits are captured by Bristol-born photographer Chris Hoare, whose work focuses on overlooked areas of society and themes of identity and place. Imbued with the closing light of summer, ahead of the festival, the imagery juxtaposes the urban city environment with the natural surroundings of The Downs.

An on-site exhibition of FORWARDS THINKERS will place the intimate portraits side- by-side with inspirational quotes from the individuals, capturing a pivotal moment of time in Bristol’s history and offering an insight into a future filled with hope. Trailblazers featured in the series include: • Harvey Watt and Kaden Gardener from Black Excellence - a grassroots project that spotlights and celebrates Black excellence in all its forms.

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or new music festival, in Bristol, for the Future - marks its O 6RWARD THINKERS, a new multifaceted portrait series and potlighting the influential faces and forces of tomorrow.

• Euella Jackson, co-director of Rising Arts - a progressive community mobilising others for radical social, political and cultural change. • Joss Ford, founder of Enviral - An ethical brand marketing agency, Envirol’s clients include Greenpeace and Surfers Against Sewage. • Amélie - a stripper and sex workers rights activist.

• Izzy Cross, director of Noods Levels - sonic pioneers who are breaking down the barriers that young people face when embarking on a career in the music industry. FORWARDS is committed to working with the communities in Bristol to build public archive material. Alongside FORWARD THINKERS, the festival is partnering with Community Interest Company, Big Team, to launch the Capture Forwards initiative. This will provide paid placements to local aspiring photographers, helping to train and inspire the city’s visual storytellers of tomorrow and give them an exclusive opportunity to photograph at the 2 day festival.

The visual identity of FORWARDS was created with Plinth, the Bristol based creative team behind Crack Magazine, who focused heavily on the festival’s location on The Downs; interesting crops, golden-hour sunlight, and green space. With photography shot by Chris Hoare, the look and feel of FORWARDS pairs imagery with colourful gradients and angular typography to create branding that reflects the festival’s need to feel contemporary, dynamic and forwardfacing. FORWARDS Festival tickets are on sale at Gates open 12:00 with the last entry to the event at 20:00.

major new music festival, in Bristol, for the Future - marks its h FORWARD THINKERS, a new multifaceted portrait series and spotlighting the influential faces and forces of tomorrow. inking conversation side-by-side with an epic music lineup, s to kickstart a new breed of inner city festival. The newly by documentary photographer Chris Hoare, celebrates six of ers appearing at the inaugural edition of FORWARDS as part of ogramme, the festival’s dedicated space for examination and ate on today’s most pressing cultural issues. ctories and opinions of some of Bristol’s most cutting-edge eatives, FORWARD THINKERS is a love letter to the city, told al stories of six changmakers. Driven by the momentum of the portraits offer a window into the lives of a future generation lready driving change from within Bristol.