Lydia Fraser-Ward is the founder and Co-Creative Director of Fantasy High Street, a brand new arts festival taking place in high streets across the UK. By partnering artists from visual and performance arts disciplines with local business owners, Fantasy High Street transforms everyday shops into mind-boggling magical enterprises for three days. Exchanging creative ideas, knowledge and skills across the arts and business sectors, these partnerships aim to attract increased footfall to a local high street, enhance and improve positive engagement between visitors and local businesses and contribute creative ideas and discussions about the future role of UK high streets and the important social function they serving in bringing people together across communities to share experiences.

Lydia has been working as an arts producer for more than 10 years, specialising in creating site-specific and outdoor performances and events. She has previously worked for The Bush Theatre, BAC, London Bubble, Theatre503 and Akademi South Asian Dance and acted as a consultant for Blind Summit, Rich Mix and Pagrav Dance Company. In addition to her work on Fantasy High Street she is also Creative Producer at Shapeshifter Productions and for pop-up cinema specialists The Lost Picture Show as well as Consultant to Tempered Body Dance and promenade theatre company High Hearted. Fantasy High Street has its soft launch ‘Fantasy Café’ opening in Lower Marsh SE1 from 4-6 July 2013, which is being delivered in partnership with Waterloo Quarter, the business improvement district for Waterloo supported by the Mayor of London and in collaboration with the London Borough of Lambeth.