Stroud Site08 Art Festival

1 to 30 June – The annual Site08 Visual Arts Festival returns to Stroud once again this summer, to play host to a month-long schedule of vibrant events for all ages.

Art exhibitions, live music, film, performance, open studios, visiting artists and a lively carnival will all be taking over Stroud for the month of June 2008, when the Site08 Visual Arts Festival hits Gloucestershire once again.

For the past 11 years hundreds of artists have shown their work in numerous sites all over Stroud, attracting visitors from around the country and beyond, and Stroud Valleys Artspace’s annual festival is set to be bigger and brighter than ever before this June.

Highlights from the Site08 Festival are set to include:

The Site08 Festival Carnival, which will officially launch the festival on Saturday 7 June 2008. This year’s theme is set to be ‘jungle’, and visitors can expect to take part in carnival costume, dance and percussion workshops; watch as a vibrant town centre procession passes through the streets of Stroud; before taking part in a free samba concert at the Corn Hill Market.

The Site08 Darbyshire Award, which will profile national and international artwork at Stroud’s Museum in the Park, culminating in Darbyshire Framers awarding a prize of up to £1,500 worth of framing services to an exhibiting of artist who will also be offered an exhibition at Stroud Valleys Artspace in John Street, Stroud.

More than 88 artists from around Stroud took part in last year’s hugely popular Open Studios, which will return once more to the festival. The Open Studios will allow members of the public to get a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into the working lives of a diverse range of talented artists and craftsmen – with a record number of local artists expected to get involved this year.

Morrocan artist Jamila Lamrani will be taking up residency at SVA; festival favourite John Hegley will once again be delighting audiences with performances and poetry workshops for children and adults; and Stroud’s very own 80s band BLURT! will headline the festival’s live music performances, led by former Stroud poet Ted Milton.

In addition, this year organisers have revealed Scottish band Tattie Toes will also be performing; the SVA Hub Collective cabaret have plans for a ‘very special, heart-stopping festival performance’ and the final weekend will see a reflective event entitled ‘A View to Peace’ close the festival with photography, singing, poetry and live music representing the thoughtful theme.

While organisers are still busy working on finalising the jam-packed, month-long schedule of events, watch this space – or sign-up to SoGlos.com’s free, weekly newsletter to find out the very latest about the Site08 Visual Arts Festival. In the meantime you can also read about last year's Stroud Site07 Art Festival.

Event: Site08 Visual Arts Festival
Venue: Various locations across Stroud
Dates: Sunday 1 to Monday 30 June 2008
Times: To be confirmed.
Tickets: To be confirmed. For more information contact Stroud Valleys Artspace on (01453) 751440.

SoGlos.com
5 April 2008