A quick post tonight, just wanted to make you aware of some up- coming Art events to put in your diary.

Firstly, Holmfirth Art Festival will run from June 14th to 24th. The website 'About' info goes-

Holmfirth Arts Festival is eleven days of music, art, comedy, theatre, literature and inspiring things to do in Holmfirth and the Holme Valley.


We celebrate the landscape of this beautiful part of Yorkshire, inviting audiences to enjoy events in picturesque village halls and churches, cafes and teashops, Holmfirth's atmospheric Picturedrome, up on the hills overlooking the town and in surrounding woodland as well as some of the more unusual places the town has to offer, like Th'Owd Towser, the old church jail. We have events in homes, in the street, and by the river. If you already know Holmfirth and the Valley, the festival is an opportunity to see it a little differently. If you've not yet discovered this lovely part of Yorkshire then June is the perfect time to visit!




As well as lots to look at and listen to, Holmfirth Arts Festival is full of things to do yourself, from art workshops to walking tours, choral singing to map making, writing and drumming. 

This will be the first time I've attended this rather new festival and I can't wait to try out all the workshops that will be going on and see some local artist's work in more intimate settings. I'll give more details about what I'll be getting up to at the Holmfirth Arts Festival in a future post/ s. If you want any more info check out the festival's website at www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk.


Secondly, another Holmfirth art event, the simply superb Holmfirth Art Week will be on this year between July 1st to 7th, every day 10am until 9pm (roughly- times vary a little!). This fantastic event has been going for 51 years and donates 20% of it's profits to Macmillian. It features a mix of professional and amateur artists, most local but some from further a field. As well as filling the beautiful civic hall for the week, tons of local businesses in the centre and surrounding areas of Holmfirth get involved too- shops, pubs, bars, restaurants, the tourism office etc. These venues are known as 'Fringe Venues' and you can easily spend the day visiting the main exhibit at the civic hall then touring the Fringe Venues.

Every year there is a 'featured artist' who gets a solo exhibit on the top floor of the civic hall and this year that privilege goes to the wonderful Rosalind Annis. I remember Rosalind from when she was just starting out and quickly she began going from strength to strength. Over the years she's had a number of works exhibited at Art Week Fringe venues and even a solo exhibit as part of the Fringe. Her art is lovely, colourful, positive and refreshing- she deserves this accolade.

Holmfirth Art Week really is one of the highlights of my year, I love it! And have been attending ever since I moved to the Holme Valley when I was around 8 years old.

Sadly I entered the amateur lottery to try and exhibit some work in this year's Art Week and didn't get picked- better luck next time hopefully. You can check out the website for my info at www.holmfirthartweek.org.uk.


Thirdly, in Chatsworth House's beautiful gardens there is currently an outdoor sculpture exhibit by Caro. This outdoor event, included in your garden admission ticket (pricey but worth it), runs until July 1st (I know what Chris and I will be doing over next week's bank holidays then!). The blurb goes-


The Chatsworth House Trust and the New Art Centre, Roche Court Sculpture Park, are proud to present 'Caro at Chatsworth'. This will be the first exhibition dedicated to the work of a single artist to be held in the garden at Chatsworth and will comprise 15 sculptures by Sir Anthony Caro sited around the famous Emperor Fountain, in front of the south façade at Chatsworth. 'Caro at Chatsworth' provides a once in a lifetime chance to see the larger work of Britain's greatest living sculptor in one of Britain's most famous historic settings.

If you attend this exhibit its sure to whet your appetite perfectly for Beyond Limits in September. For more information visit the Chatsworth House website at www.chatsworth.org.

(Phew- thought I said that was going to be a quick post!)