Youth festival for town 'full of possibilities'

Organisers of the first Children's Capital of Culture have said the festival will show that its host town is "full of possibilities".

Young people in Rotherham promoted the idea of the showcase to the local council, which agreed to support a year of events.

The programme kicks off with the illumination of Rotherham Town Hall from 2-10 January.

Organiser Grace Bower, 19, said: "We are buzzing to be shaping the future of Rotherham."

Theatre company Imitating the Dog has been commissioned to create a trail of light and sound projections across the town centre for a winter festival called "Otherham".

As part of Otherham, landmark buildings will be illuminated and there will be street performances and workshops each evening from 24-26 January.

The rest of the year's schedule includes youth music festival Signals in February and a carnival parade in March.

An outdoor art gallery is planned, a literature festival organised by children's reading charity Grimm & Co and events at Wentworth Woodhouse.

Children's Capital of Culture is expected to bring around £14m of outside investment into the borough and create jobs, according to Rotherham Council.

It has engaged more than 260,000 people in youth-led activities and employed 112 young people in creative industry traineeships. Alumni of the scheme have secured jobs at Netflix and Channel Four.

Miss Bower, from Whiston, added: "2025 isn't just about one epic year, it's about creating something that lasts and showing young people that this town is full of possibilities. It's about time we showed the world what Rotherham can do."

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