The Somerset Art Weeks Festival is all set to take place from 23 September to 8 October, this year. During the art festival, more than 350 artist will welcome visitors to the studios, museums, manor houses, country cottages, barns, to a historic paper mill and also to the county’s longest gallery. Painters, sculptors, paper makers, wood carvers, ceramists, glass-blowers and willow weavers are opening their doors at 120 venues.
Over 350 artists will be participating in this festival with the theme ‘Prospect’. Both the invited artists and members of Somerset Arts Works (SAW) will be interpreting the theme in various ways via the exhibitions, workshops, special projects and commissions. All sorts of opportunities will arise to experience the wide range of works during the 2 weeks across the county.
The exhibition- Footprints in Time, is about the shoemaking in the Street and its importance. The Paper Prospects exhibition by Somerset Guild of Craftsmen, features paper and printmaking. Visitors can join in a drop-in session on 7th and 8th October, to try out printing on Somerset paper. There will be exclusive tours to St Cuthbert Mill, open to public for the first time.
Printmaker Jackie Curtis will be exhibiting with textile artist Lorna Davies, at the festival. A series of commissions- A Landscape of Objects are for Somerset’s landscaped gardens. Skilled makers to demonstrate their craft and techniques will be at the Contemporary Craft weekend, taking place at Lytes Cary. In the final weekend, the festival will specially welcome families, offering workshops have-a-go activities, demonstrations and special events across the county.
Festival guides containing the list of family friendly activities, commissions , SAW projects and more, are available free at Tourist Information Centres, also at museums, galleries, libraries and other outlets, plus by calling 01458-253800 at Somerset Art Works. The site – somersetartworks.org hosts a map and more info. The Somerset Art Weeks Festival has mostly free events, studio visits and exhibitions, but only some may have a fee or need to be booked.
