Arts & Heritage
Taking place across nine Host Cities and ten stadia, the cultural offering runs throughout the summer season alongside the tournament which takes place from 6 July until the Final at Wembley on 31 July 2022.
In collaboration with the Host Cities – Brighton & Hove, London (Brent and Hounslow), Manchester, Milton Keynes, Rotherham, Sheffield, Southampton, Trafford and Wigan & Leigh – the arts and heritage programme reveals untold stories of women’s football and encourages more people to be inspired by the tournament. The programme brings the worlds of sport and art together in a national celebration which is set to reach 3 million people.
The arts and heritage programme for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 tournament is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, thanks to National Lottery players, and the Host Cities.
It’s an important year for women’s football, as England hosts the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 and England Women mark their 50th anniversary. However, the history of the game goes back a lot further than many might think. This year also marks 141 years since women’s football was first played professionally.
Throughout the tournament, Station Square hosted a free outdoor exhibition telling the history of women’s football and featuring a series of newly commissioned portraits of current local players taken by social documentary photographer, Katherine Green.
This exhibition has now been moved to centre:mk and can be viewed for FREE. It is located along the side of John Lewis & Partners, on the side nearest to MK Gallery/MK Theatre. It will be in-situ until 9th October 2022.
Community Contemporary Collecting Programme, Oral Histories and Memory Films
Led by MK Museum with support from Living Archive and volunteers, three ‘show and tell’ community roadshows have captured the stories of local former players, whilst also providing opportunities for players and fans to share their football memorabilia. Stories from players past and present have also been documented through nine oral histories and four memory films.
Find out more about the heritage programme here
A Talks Programme delivered with the Open University – a series of online interviews and a legacy talks programme will exploring the relationship between women’s football and feminism will launch in late July.
A fan photography competition celebrating the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 led by Destination Milton Keynes will launch on 8th July to give fans an opportunity to capture their experiences of the tournament. A work experience opportunity for aspiring young photographers and a photography archive at local level also form part of the competition.
Right image – courtesy of Living Archive MK
The Beautiful Game
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has devised and delivered a new tournament Anthem by to celebrate the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, by composer Shirley J. Thompson OBE and nine local Anthems for each Host City. Inspired by words and lyrics submitted by fans across the country and recorded by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and 100 community representatives from the Host Cities, the tournament Anthem honours the achievements of women footballers and the bright future of the game. To download all of the Anthems and Momentum Challenge, please visit: rpo.co.uk/womens-euro-anthem
MK’s very own anthem Our Time is Now has been written with the Royal Philharmonic, composer Charlotte Harding, MK Music Hub and local communities. A joyous tune celebrating all that is special about MK including our infamous concrete cows, the code breakers and yes – our new city status!
Join us for a live performance of MK’s Our Time is Now by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra alongside Milton Keynes Brass, MK Youth Choir, MK Community Choir and pupils from across MK on:
Wednesday 27 July
14.30hrs – 15:15hrs
17.00hrs – 18:30hrs
Location: Fan Party, Station Square, MK9 1LR
Free, no tickets required.
Seating will be available on first come first served basis. The Fan Party is fully accessible.
The Supercompensation Cycle by Emma Smith
An immersive and participatory artwork that invites the public to warm-up for each match by replicating the movements of live performers. Inspired by historic footage of players’ warm up moves and sports theory, the work celebrates the unheralded expertise of all bodies and how they move. Made in collaboration with MK residents and girls and young women from Milton Keynes Football Club, holographic portraits embedded in specially designed sculptures form an installation that is accompanied by a sound track created in collaboration with musician Ya Ya Bones and sound engineer Daniel Halford.
Everyone is invited to join us to view The Supercompensation Cycle in MK at the Tree Cathedral – www.theparkstrust.com/parks/tree-cathedral
Monday 25 July – 18.00hrs – 19.30hrs – Join us for a very special evening viewing and dance performance (dance performance at 6.15pm)
Tuesday 26 July – 10.00hrs – 13.00hrs – Hologram installation open
Free, no tickets required
Location: Tree Cathedral, off Livingstone Drive MK15 9ED
The Tree Cathedral is accessible, though some areas have rough terrain. Study footwear is recommended.
Stadium for the Future (If I can’t dance I don’t want to be part of your revolution) by Idle Women
Stadium for the Future will be a living stadium imagined, engineered and hand built by and for women, a self-sustaining ecosystem of creating, training and playing to manifest a different world.
Conceived as a provocation and call to action, Stadium for the Future will be danced into existence come rain or shine at the Campbell Park underpass alongside the Grand Union Canal in MK during ‘A Dance to Celebrate our Rightful Belonging with Queer Rave Soundsystem and DJ’s Ayebaitari, Cybernova, Missy P, Cheza, Sheba Q and MC Icykal.
Sunday 17 July
15.00hrs – 21.00hrs
This is a free ticketed event. BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE
Location: Canalside, Car Parking available at the Tree Cathedral or at Livingstone Drive.
What Three Words: shipyards.cemented.glares
The location of this event is fully accessible, though it should be noted that it is a 15min walk from the nearest car park to the location.
Who Makes Football by The Guild Collective
Commissioned by Milton Keynes Council, local artists and dyers collective ‘The Guild’ will deliver a fun, free interactive workshop where you can hand craft your own football from naturally dyed and embroidered fabrics and share your football stories.
Friday 8 July – 12:00hrs – 17:00hrs
Tuesday 12 July – 12.00hrs – 17.00hrs
Saturday 16 July – 12.00hrs – 18.00hrs
Wednesday 27 July – 12.00hrs – 18.00hrs
Free, no tickets required.
Location: Fan Party, Station Square, MK9 1LR
Seating will be available on first come first served basis. The Fan Party is fully accessible.
Warrior Women by Motus Dance and Alina Orchestra
Commissioned by Milton Keynes Council, Warrior Women celebrates the strength, fortitude and creativity of local MK women both on and off the football pitch in a new collaborative, multidisciplinary work including dance, film and a live music performance.
Saturday 16 July – 14:00hrs – 14:30hrs
Wednesday 27 July – 15:00hrs – 15:30hrs
Free, no tickets required.
Location: Fan Party, Station Square, MK9 1LR
Seating will be available on first come first served basis. The Fan Party is fully accessible.
Library Resource Pack
Deborah Goatley-Birch has designed a new creative resource pack for libraries across the country which is now available to download. The resource pack will enable communities to come together to celebrate and enjoy the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. It includes activities inspired by football fan objects such as rosette and banner making and includes a reading list of books that feature trailblazing sports people. To download the creative resource pack, please visit: thefa.com/competitions/uefa-womens-euro-2022/weuro2022-library-resources
For more information about the arts and heritage programme, to get involved or any questions please email [email protected]
