City News

Fireworks, fanfares and behind-the scene tours will herald the return of ArtsFest, now in its 10th year. The country’s largest free arts festival, which is organised by Birmingham City Council, will take place on Friday 14 – Sunday 16 September 2007.

In celebration of its anniversary status, this year’s ArtsFest will be bigger and better than ever before. World-class companies the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Birmingham Royal Ballet will take to the stage to delight audiences of 10,000 in Centenary Square. The CBSO’s finale will include a spectacular fireworks display choreographed to music. There will be over 18 hours of live performances including appearances from chart-topping bands, up and coming local talent, Latin American performances, operatic pieces, stand-up comedians and poets.

New for this year will be a giant, state-of-the-art ‘Luminarium’ or air sculpture. This 50 metre-long installation contains tunnels and domes and will be a focal point in Centenary Square – on entering the sculpture, people will be wowed by the beauty of light and colour.

Councillor Ray Hassall, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture said:
“We have world class companies and creative individuals coming together in celebration of the best of the arts in Birmingham. All of the activities are free and we hope that people who are not regular art goers will come and experience what’s on offer and feel that they want to go to the theatre or attend a concert in the future.”

Stephen Maddock, Chief Executive for City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra said:
 “We always enjoy playing at Artsfest and this year we are really looking forward to providing such a large-scale show on the Saturday evening.  The CBSO is Birmingham's own orchestra so we're always  pleased to bring our music to the widest possible audience.”

The popular Discovery Day Trail which entices ‘treasure seekers’ to follow a trail around the city is part of ArtsFest this year. In total there are 16 venues – the festival footprint runs from Brindleyplace through Centenary, Chamberlain and Victoria Squares, down New Street to Millennium Point and includes the MailBox, the Old Rep, the Electric Cinema, the Arcadian Centre and St Martin’s Church. There will be look-behind-the scenes activities as organisations fling open their doors to the public. Top of the list are sneak previews of the prestigious Town Hall – ahead of its official opening in October.

Especially for ArtsFest, guided tours will reveal the outcome of the major two-
year restoration project. A grade II listed building, the Council House will reveal its inner glories including the Lord Mayor’s suite and the Council Voting Chamber.  There will be theatre tours, the Short Cuts Film Programme, dance performances and workshops, craft market and the Ask It stalls. To make it easy on the feet, the city council has laid on a range of free transport options including a land train, canal boat trips and shuttle bus services.   

ArtsFest is packed with free activities for everyone, but families will be particularly attracted to ‘Neverland’ in the City Centre Gardens. This Peter Pan kingdom will have lots of fun activities to keep even the most liveliest of minds entertained. And for one day only, SportsFest (on Sunday 16 September) takes place at Millennium Point where children can try different sports for free and receive advice from expert coaches who will be overseeing each activity.

A Visual Arts Village will inhabit Victoria Square. Presenting a range of visual arts from print-making to sculpture, arts organisations including Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, the Barber Institute, CraftSpace Touring and Walsall New Art Gallery will be running activities and workshops to inspire creativity. The ArtsFest Gallery in the Council House will exhibit the work of successful local artists including images of Birmingham (‘the Birmingham Exhibition) presented by the Jewellery Quarter’s Claire Galleries plus there will be a showcase of the artists that make up Birmingham artists’ collective.

‘Paintings on the Railings’ in Centenary Square will see a Montmartre style art market open to anybody to display their artwork for sale. Visitors will be able to pick up a piece of affordable art and take it home. Ranging from professional artists to amateurs with no formal experience, ArtsFest is calling on established and budding artists to come forward and hire a pitch. Further details are available from the ArtsFest hotline listed below.

ArtsFest will open and close with two triumphant spectacles – it will open with Blast, incorporating a hundred-strong Steam Whistle Orchestra supported by light projections, music and fire and will close with a celebratory parade featuring the best of 10 years of ArtsFest and performances from Birmingham Opera Company with a fireworks finale which fill festival-goers with awe.

ArtsFest is calling on comedians to come forward to take part on the Beachside Comedy Stage – comedians will be performing on Birmingham’s very own beach, as Chamberlain Square turns into the seaside, complete with deckchairs. Comedians looking to take part in ArtsFest should register their interest with the ArtsFest Team by calling the hotline by 30 April.

ArtsFest starts on Friday 14 September and finishes at 7.30pm on Sunday 16 September. The latest developments and news are available at www.artfest.org.uk or by calling the ArtsFest hotline on 0121 464 5678.