2018 FESTIVAL LAUNCH

Broadway Arts Festival today announced an exciting expanded programme of events for the 2018 festival, made possible by the recent award of a Worcestershire Leader Grant from The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The award recognises the important contribution made to the rural economy by the Broadway Arts Festival, which is now considered one of the Cotswold’s cultural highlights.

The festival offers an extremely varied programme of events of the highest quality to inspire, entertain and encourage participation in the arts. There is something for everyone regardless of interest, age or artistic ability. Attracting celebrity speakers, nationally renowned artists, award-winning theatre productions and world-class musicians.

The impressive list of guest speakers for 2018 includes:

Sir Roy Strong CH: Festival Patron, art historian and former director of the V&A Museum
Richard Ormond: Great-nephew and biographer of John Singer Sargent
John Julius Norwich, 2nd Viscount Norwich: Author, historian and TV presenter
Tristram Hunt: Current director of the V&A Museum
Andrew Graham-Dixon: Writer & presenter of the BBC’s “Italy Unpacked” & “The Royal Collection”
Lachlan Goudie: Artist and presenter of BBC’s “The Big Painting Challenge”
Guy Fraser Sampson: Author and expert in the Mapp and Lucia novels of E.F. Benson
Donna Lucey: American best-selling author of “Sargent’s Women”

NEW for 2018:
artBEAT June 8-10
A new exciting three-day event on the village green featuring painters, printmakers, sculptors,
ceramicists, designer-makers and a host of traditional artisans who will be demonstrating their skills and selling their work. It will also play host to specialist demonstrations led by internationally renowned contemporary artists such as Ann Blockley, Tony Allain, Jerry Fresia, Trevor Waugh, Este McLeod and Catherine Hyde.

 

 

Family Programme: This year there will be activities for all ages throughout the festival including storytelling, drama workshops and a special guest appearance by Tweedy the clown from Gifford’s Circus! The Family Day on June 16th will feature arts and crafts workshops, mural painting and street performers; whilst David Walliams fans can look forward to a theatrical production of the bestseller “The Midnight Gang”.

Other Festival highlights:

For those who enjoy being creative there will be workshops and demonstrations led by leading contemporary artists, craftsmen and designers for painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, jewellery, ceramics, willow, wood or metalwork.

On June 17th “The Great Broadway Paint-Off” takes place with everyone encouraged to join in and try their hand to win exciting prizes.

Lovers of music and theatre will be treated to a great selection of classical concerts, fabulous Jazz nights, a “Come & Sing!”choral workshop of Mozart’s Requiem plus a New Orleans style Mardi Gras Party on the final Saturday night of the festival!

 

Enjoy summer evenings of comedy and romance in the marquee on the idyllic village green with a theatre production of “Romeo and Juliet” by The Handlebards or “Pride & Prejudice” by Heartbreak Productions.

Alongside special exhibitions in the many village galleries, the Broadway Museum and Art Gallery will play host to a fascinating World War I exhibition curated from the collection of John Noott accompanied by poetry and music of the period.

The festival’s internationally recognised open art competition attracts entries from as far away as China and the US. This year’s theme of “Reflection” is open to artists in any medium (registration via the website – closing date 6th May). Up to 200 of the best entries will be hung in a prestigious selling exhibition at Little Buckland Gallery throughout the festival.

 

Karen Bloch, Chair of the BAF Management Committee commented:
“This will be 10 days of the most diverse, creative, educational and entertaining events the festival has ever presented. We are particularly excited about artBEAT, a new festival strand showcasing the work of some of Britain’s top artists, designers and artisans. The public will get to see these incredible designer-makers at work, talk to the artists, even have a go themselves. We will also be encouraging the next generation with a new programme of family events, plus free creative activities in our local primary schools which is so important at a time when funding for the arts in schools is under threat.”

For more details and to purchase tickets (on sale in March) visit: www.broadwayartsfestival.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ENDS
For further information and images, or to arrange an interview contact: Alison Braithwaite, Marketing Director Tel: 01386 859442  alison@evergreenmarketing.co.uk

NOTES FOR EDITORS:
The Broadway Arts Festival is a celebration of the village’s unique artistic heritage and enduring relationship with the world-famous Broadway Colony of American & British artists, musicians and writers, who visited and worked here in the late 19th century. The festival and Charitable Trust aims to maintain and develop Broadway’s artistic heritage as an established venue for artistic excellence as well as providing grants for local full-time students of the arts.

The LEADing Rural Business Programme (LEADER) is part of the Rural Development Programme for England and is delivered locally by Worcestershire County Council and the Worcestershire Local Action Group on behalf of Defra.
The project has received funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development under the Rural Development Programme for England. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the Managing Authority for the Rural Development Programme for England. Established by the European Union, the Rural Development Programme for England helps local rural areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support businesses, create jobs and facilitate local community regenerations.