Not Just Romans? Chester Storyhouse Futures Festival

In November 2025, the Storyhouse Theatre in Chester held their annual Futures Festival: two weeks of events, shows, films and activities dedicated to sustainability. The Civic Imaginaries team, in collaboration with the Storyhouse, Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, hosted two exploratory events designed to help shape our research.

With artist Tim Foxon, we delved into the Cheshire Archives , exploring moments from the past when Chester has reimagined its futures. On Saturday 8th November Tim led a free art session with participants designing their own Visit Chester 2075 poster, in response to some of the stories and artefacts that interested us. On Monday 10th November, we facilitated an interactive focus group for local planners, councillors, creatives, small business owners and educators interested in the creative future of Chester. Together, we reflected on Chester’s creative histories, the current landscape, and prospective futures, offering participants an opportunity to discuss Chester’s creative trajectory.