Monday, April 02, 2007

The Importance of Being Earnest

The Faringdon Arts Festival Committee is thrilled to announce the latest addition to the Festival schedule; in the form of the Faringdon Dramatic Society's production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. Here is what our FDS contact Debbie Lock has to say:

"The Importance of Being Earnest - a trivial comedy for serious people. Faringdon Dramatic Society present this classic Oscar Wilde comedy exploring life, love, muffins and of course a hand bag.

Earnest was Wilde's last, but probably most accomplished comedy. We hope you will enjoy the dazzling wit of this - his masterpiece, and certainly, if you have never seen the play before - go away enriched."

Sounds fantastic! This wonderful production will hit the stage of the Faringdon Junior School the week before the Festival proper, so don't be taken by surprise. Come along and enjoy a night to remember!

Venue : Faringdon Junior School

Date : 28th, 29th and 30th June 2007

Time : 7:30pm

Monday, January 29, 2007

Pottery Painting with Pottering About

In the latest Festival event news, we're delighted to announce the addition of Pottering About to our hands-on workshop programme. If you've ever wanted to try your hand at decorating pottery, here's your chance! Come along to the Faringdon Arts Festival on Saturday July 7th and paint some lovely pottery with Pottering About.


Here's what Pottering About's head honcho, the lovely Katy Gorman, has to say about what she'll be up to on Saturday:


"We'll have lots of practical table ware e.g. mugs, plates and bowls, which we take back to our workshop to glaze and fire for you, plus ornaments and figurines for you to paint and take away on the day. Pottery painting is great fun for both children and adults and the finished results make perfect presents. We'll also be doing baby's footprints on pottery so there's something for the whole family!"


Prices from £5 and up. Just come along and find us on the day or contact Katy at Pottering About on 07710 347920 or visit www.potteringabout.co.uk for more information.






Monday, January 15, 2007

Needlepoint Exhibition

We at the Faringdon Arts Festival are delighted to announce the latest addition to the Festival exhibition line up. A generous Festival patron has volunteered to exhibit her collection of historic needlepoint artefacts, including: cross stitch; tapestry and quilting dating back to 1812; ivory bobbins; and WWI love hearts sent back home as Valentines cards from soldiers overseas.

Venue to be decided, but as with all Festival events, it will of course be within the environs of Faringdon itself.

Don't miss your chance to view this cross section of needlework history, displayed throughout the duration of the Festival!

WWI Battlefield Photography Exhibition Exclusive

In an exciting coup for the Faringdon Arts Festival, we have secured a prestigious battlefield photography exhibition from award winning Oxfordshire photographer Michael Sheils, to be shown throughout this summer's Festival.

2007 marks the 90th Anniversary of Paschendale, that infamous offensive during the Battle of Ypres that typifies all the horror of First World War trench warfare. In conjunction with the Memorial Museum at Paschendale, Mr. Sheils set out to photograph what remains of the battlefield today as part of an international act of remembrance. In spite of the passage of 90 years, the effect of the battle on the landscape is still visible, from iron pickets and the remains of concrete walls and bunkers to the shape of the land itself. Every picture has its own story, and natural beauty mingles with history in this series of poignant images from Mr. Sheils.

The exhibition will be shown in Paschendale from the 12th of July for 3 months, and is already attracting international interest, with visits planned by a number of heads of state.

All of which makes it so exciting that the Arts Festival has the World Exclusive Premiere of this eminent exhibition, a full week before it goes on display for the rest of the world on the site of the battle itself. Come and see the photographs for yourself; exhibited in the centre of town on every day of the Festival - the 6th, 7th and 8th of July.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Cash Prize for Design a Poster Competition

We are thrilled to announce our new competition to design a Faringdon Arts Festival 2007 poster.

As if the kudos of seeing your work professionally printed and displayed throughout Faringdon wasn't enough, the kind people at Bordengate Insurance Brokers have generously offered a cash prize for the winning poster designer.

The competition will be open to pupils attending all Faringdon schools. More details to come later.


Monday, November 13, 2006

Shadow Arts Minister to open the Faringdon Arts Festival

We have some wonderful news! We have been very lucky and managed to get the Shadow Arts Minister, Mr Ed Vaizey, to open the Arts Festival in 2007.

In addition to this, Mr Vaizey has also offered to take two people for tea at the House of Commons as an auction prize to help raise money for the Arts Festival.

Thanks Ed

Monday, October 23, 2006

Faringdon Arts Festival Funding

Our Sponsors and Funders

  1. It gives me great pleasure in letting you all know that the Faringdon Arts Festival have just been awarded £1500 from the Vale of White Horse District Council.
  2. Keeping Safe (The internet back up company - www.keepingsafe.co.uk) have donated £150 to the winners of our writing competition.

Thank you