We held our annual Festival of Artists event here at the Centre on Saturday 29th April through to Monday 1st May.
The place was a hive of activity throughout and we've had lots of great feedback from artists and visitors alike. We reckon this years festival must go down as the best one yet....we certainly saw lots of people walking back to their cars with lots of new artwork purchased.
On the Saturday of the event we welcomed Touch FM who did a live broadcast from the Centre. They interviewed several of our permanent studio holders and also some of the visiting artists so it was great exposure for both the festival and our Centre.
With over 50 visiting artists on display across the site, visitors were treated to stunning exhibitions as well as brilliant live demonstrations. As is always the case with the festival, it covered such a broad cross section of art including painting, drawing, wood turning, stone-carving & textiles, so there was great variety on display.
This year's winner of the Geoff Hollinshead Award was Paul Holmes (facebook @art.sandalwood). Picking a winner was such a hard task given the exceptional talent on display, but the judges ultimately decided on Paul as they were blown away by the diverse range of paintings and subject matter on view.
A big thank you for all the hard work put in to organising the event by Kara Strachan of the Art Loft, and to the farm for all their efforts. It's no easy task putting up & taking down all of our event marquees!
Last but not least, thank you to all the wonderful artists. It was fascinating to see all your artwork and to be able to watch your demonstrations - we look forward to being inspired by you all again next year!
Are you ready to meet some dinosaurs and their ancestors? Come along to Curborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre on Thursday 20th April (now SOLD OUT) or Sunday May 7th (Tickets STILL AVAILABLE) where you will be able to take a close look at dinosaur models, their bones and eggs, as well as witness the animals that were living at that time but are still alive today. Then, the show stopping finale…. meet a walking, growling T-Rex for what will be an encounter like no other.
Event Organiser: Lichfield Garden Centre
Booking Details: On both days, there are 3 sessions available with start times of 10.30, 12.30 and 14.30 hrs. Spaces are available on a first come, first served basis, and tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets can be purchased inside Lichfield Garden Centre, or by calling them on 01543 254306
Cost: £4.00 per child
Curborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre’s free “Festival of Artists” event is back for its fourth year, and will be even bigger in 2017! The event is now confirmed for three days from Saturday 29th April to Monday 1st May (11am to 4pm on all days).
The Festival is organised by on-site artist Kara Strachan of the Art Loft, (who will also be exhibiting on the day), along with the help and support of Curborough Hall Farm and the Centre’s other artists and galleries; Home of Colours, Lime Sky: Studio & Gallery, Lion House Art and Eden Gallery, all of whom are located at the Centre all year round.
Kara’s passion and enthusiasm for art is infectious, and a big reason for why the event has been so successful and popular with both artists and art lovers alike. Kara remarks, “We have had some fantastic feedback about our Festival over the past few years, but we are always looking at ways that we can make it bigger and better. This year we have decided to add an extra day, and that will help us to accommodate even more visitors to the event."
On view will be artists working with oils, pastels, acrylics, textiles and water colours - even wood, stained glass and stone, so there is an excellent and diverse range of artists attending. It’s not just their artwork that will be on display. A real highlight of the event is the fact that exhibitors will be demonstrating their exquisite techniques throughout the Festival so it’s a great opportunity to watch, learn and be inspired. Ultimately, the event is all about trying to create a long-term legacy for art, both locally, and for the wider area.
As well as the Festival of Artists event, the Centre’s other businesses and retailers will be open as usual. From antiques to gifts, there’s even a farm shop, garden centre and Mabel’s Tearoom (renowned for their delicious cakes and home cooked food), so there will be plenty of things to see and do for all the family during the bank holiday weekend.
The Festival of Artists will culminate in the Geoff Hollinshead Award being given to the artist displaying the best piece of artwork. Who will follow in the footsteps of last year's winner Martin Carty? With so much great art sure to be on display, come along to Curborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre for a great day out and to see if you agree with the judge’s decision.
