For Immediate Release: 4th February 2013

 

Bedford Creative Arts is delighted to present Almanac Festival

22nd to 24th February 2013

 

Bedford Creative Arts, the charity who last year were responsible for the beautiful installation in St Paul’s Square, Lace in Place, and the spectacular new choral work Concerto Magnificent: An Anthology of All Things, announces a weekend of art made in Bedford.

Almanac Festival will take place in Bedford on 22nd to 24th February 2013, and all of it has been fuelled by unique contributions from those who have taken part in Bedford Creative Arts’ projects; you, your friends and your neighbours.

Speaking about the festival, Bedford Creative Arts’ Director Dawn Giles gave a taste of what to expect:

 

“Experience magical night time light projections, take part in animated discussions, and visit our pop up cinema to see films made in Bedford. Become a walking musical instrument in our new interactive sound installation, or drink tea, take a walk with us and find out more about how afternoon tea started in Bedfordshire. Come and hear the Concerto Magnificent, a concert of new music with words written by you, the people of Bedford. Look up for our new High Street installation and look out for our Town Crier!”

 

The full festival programme is now on www.bedfordcreativearts.org.uk and includes a restaging of local composer Johnny Parry’s Concerto Magnificent hosted by St Cuthbert’s Hall, and a Made in Bedford film night at The Pad nightclub. The festival will kick off on Friday night, lighting up the night with Laced Words, a new artwork by Arabel Rosillo de Blas and Kathy Hinde, which will lace 1 St Paul’s Square with light and sound.

 

ENDS

 

Notes:

For more information please contact Bedford Creative Arts:

Jennie Stoddart JennieS@bedfordcreativearts.org.uk

01234 818670

Additional images are available on request from Bedford Creative Arts

 

Full Almanac Festival events listings:

 

Laced Words

Piazza Kiosk & 1 St Paul’s Square

Friday 22nd February 6.30 – 8pm

Free

Wrap up warm and join us for drinks at our opening event, as we light up the night.  To celebrate the end of artist Arabel Rosillo de Blas’ amazing Lace in Place, created for St Paul’s Square by Bedfordians. Arabel and audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde will lace the building with light and sound, while the Piazza Kiosk will provide warming drinks and great company.

 

Café Almanac Artists Talks

The Studio Club, 32 Alexandra Road

Saturday 23rd February 2 – 3.30pm

Free

Get behind the scenes, join the debate and ask us questions.  We’ve invited Bedfordshire artists Aaron Head, Andy Holden and Dominic from Luton to present art and ideas relating to their home towns. Join us at the Studio Club for what promises to be a lively and thought provoking afternoon.

 

 

Tea and a walk in a (small) field

Ground Floor Coffee, Kings House, Ampthill Road

Saturday 23rd February 3 – 5pm

Free

See one of the biggest cakes ever and then eat it! As one of our ‘mini commissions’, local artist Kezia Hall is asking you to help us to create the town’s largest cake, inspired by your own local stories, and the Duchess of Bedford, creator of Afternoon Tea.

 

Almanac Film Night: Made in Bedford

The Pad, Lurke Street

Saturday 23rd February, films start at 7.30pm

Tickets £5, book online or pick up at the festival hub

Made in Bedford, these films aren’t available anywhere else. A window into how we have worked with you to make art happen. Come along for a unique cinematic experience, then party late with us at the Pad nightclub.

 

Vocal Migrations

Upstairs at St Cuthbert’s Hall, Newnham Street

Sunday 24th February, 2pm – 4pm

Free, but please book a slot online or at the festival hub

Experience being a bat! Use echo location to ‘see’ your surroundings in the dark, and create unusual sounds using just your voice and a specially created electronic voice box.  Audio visual artist Kathy Hinde presents her experimental artwork for voices. This is – an interactive afternoon where you can sing, play and shout. 14 yrs +

 

Concerto Magnificent: An Anthology of All Things

St Cuthbert’s Hall, Newnham Street

Sunday 24th February. Doors open 7.30pm

Tickets £8, £5 concs, book online or pick up from the festival hub

To close the festival Bedford’s Community Choir led by composer Johnny Parry presents a spectacular yet intimate staging of the Concerto Magnificent. Made in Bedford by Bedford, this is your chance to experience a rare live performance of this amazing achievement of collaborative music making,  whether you saw its premiere performance last September or are experiencing it here for the first time.

Along the High Street

All weekend, free

Artist Bettina Furnee has been working with the shopkeepers and users of Bedford’s High Street to create a new piece of public art. Look up to see the high street in a new way. This fun and playful new work will provide clues to the people and history of one of Bedford’s main shopping areas.

 

Infinite29

82 The High Street

All weekend, free

A new pop-up art installation for the town Centre. Flickering and atmospheric, this is a contemporary take on Bedford’s lacemaking heritage. Bedford Creative Arts’ creativity and wellbeing group Infinite29 present their own installation inspired by lace makers’ lanterns.

 

 

About Bedford Creative Arts:

Bedford Creative Arts is a contemporary visual arts organisation that has worked within the town for over 25 years. It is committed to commissioning quality art working with local communities.

Bedford Creative Arts seeks to question and explore genuine artistic collaboration and what it means to commission with communities. We work with specialist, experienced artists who are exploring new possibilities of collaborative arts practice. Commissions are realised through collaboration with community partners; making art in everyday places, exploring the links between art and social, economic or cultural issues.

 

www.bedfordcreativearts.org.uk