WELCOME TO
CHORLTON ARTS FESTIVAL 2008
I am delighted to write the introduction to the eighth Chorlton Arts Festival programme, in my first year as Chair. Last year over 18,000 people attended events throughout the Festival week and I am confident that this year’s programme will match, if not exceed that figure. As always, we have a hectic week in store for you and one that really highlights the tremendous range of artistic talent that exists in south Manchester.
In addition to our usual performance, visual arts and education programmes there are plenty of new things to tempt you. We have more workshops than ever before, some happening before the Festival week so be careful not to miss out! We also launch artHOUSE, our new temporary gallery space and, in a change to our gala night, welcome jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth to end the Festival on a real high note. This year we also launch the first in what we hope will become a series of Chorlton Arts Festival books. ‘A Celebration of Poetry’ has been a year in the making and will place the work of our local poets in every library in the country. Next year we’re planning a book of local photographs and there are details in the programme of how you can be included in this.
Thank you to Axis Graphic Design for creating another vibrant and stylish programme. Thanks also to our Festival team for putting together a truly diverse and stimulating calendar of events. Finally, thank you to the many venues that support us, our wonderful team of volunteers and the performers and visual artists who give their skills free of charge. We couldn’t do this without you.
In eight years we have come a long way in making Chorlton Arts Festival a real highlight of our community life; raising the profile of our local arts and creating an event of which we can all be proud. So spread the word and join us in celebrating the best the area has to offer.
The Rt. Hon. Lord Keith Bradley
Chair
NEW FOR 2008
Fancy yourselF as a budding David Bailey?
The special emphasis of this year’s Festival is photography and we are inviting you to submit entries for our new Celebration of Photography. Your photos should be connected with Chorlton, be normal print size (15cm x 10cm) and submitted in a frame of your choice. The photos will then be displayed on our new Chorlton Wall (see Visual Arts programme for details) and all of them will be re-printed in a special Festival book to be published later this year. For more information please e-mail us: fiona@chorltonartsfestival.com.
Chorlton Arts Festival Poets in Print
Last year the special emphasis of the Festival was poetry and we asked for poems to be submitted for reading at a special poetry evening during the Festival week. These poems have now been published in our first book: Chorlton Arts Festival: A Celebration of Poetry, with a special foreword written by our patron, Carol Ann Duffy. The book is on sale at many local venues so please keep an eye open for it and let us know your thoughts.