Artists from across the New Forest are gearing up for the first New Forest Arts Festival.
Nearly 30 events are being held during the two week celebrations from 11 – 26 June including theatre, music, painting, crafts, textiles, film, photography, poetry, talks and workshops.
Many are in unusual venues such as a tree house, beach hut, castle, gardens, pub, museums and arts centre, helping people discover new areas of the New Forest.
There are lots of opportunities to take part and many of the events are free.
The Arts Festival is a partnership between the New Forest National Park Authority and Hampshire Cultural Trust, New Forest District Council, SPUD, Forest Forge theatre company, the New Forest Centre in Lyndhurst, Forest Arts in New Milton, hArt at ArtSway, and St Barbe Museum in Lymington.
New Forest National Park Authority Chief Executive Alison Barnes said: “The New Forest has long been a hub for artists and craftspeople working across a wide variety of media, inspired by our magnificent surroundings. We’re joining together over two weeks in June to invite everyone to find out more about the New Forest landscape, through culture and arts. I am very much looking forward to experience the Forest through the eyes of artists and their talents this summer.”
To help create artworks, become part of the audience and meet the artists, see the full programme at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/artsfestival and sign up for all the latest Arts Festival news. You can also find out more on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newforestartsfestival.
The Festival is one of many projects within a Heritage Lottery funded scheme called Our Past, Our Future, led by the New Forest National Park Authority with 11 key partners. Over the next four years it will help protect and enhance the landscape, develop Forest skills and encourage residents and visitors to discover and safeguard the Forest’s fascinating heritage. More details at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/landscapepartnership.
