Calne Music and Arts Festival returns

Calne’s annual Music and Arts Festival (CMAF), providing entertainment for local people and showcasing local musical and artistic talent, runs from 7-16 October. An extensive range of events take place throughout the 10-day Festival so there is sure to be something that appeals to everyone.

An open art exhibition is the festival’s centrepiece, open to the public from Saturday 8 October to Sunday 16 October. The exhibition at Marden House in Calne presents hundreds of artworks from beginners to internationally renowned artists with a local connection. All art displayed is for sale. Please check the CMAF website programme for the exhibition's opening times as they vary at weekends and weekdays; you can also book tickets for various events on its site. This weekend the exhibition is open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 8 October and from 10am-2pm, and 4pm-5pm on Sunday 9 October.

A few of our members are exhibiting this year so, if you’re able to, please visit the exhibition and show your support. 

Festival event: meet the artist – Chris Dunn
A ‘meet the artist’ talk featuring local, acclaimed illustrator Chris Dunn in conversation with Genevieve Sioka (the Festival’s exhibition co-ordinator) takes place on Saturday 15 October from 10am-12pm. Chris, who is an expert watercolourist, will be answering questions and signing books. The talk is free but if you'd like to attend  please book tickets for it on the CMAF website.
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You can also see some artworks by Chris on display at a separate, free, exhibition, which features his children's book illustrations, taking place at Calne Heritage Centre, SN11 0SQ. Open from 10am - 4pm, Wednesday - Saturday, 5th-29th October (closed on Sundays), the show features mainly prints of his watercolour illustrations for 'The Wind in the Willows', however, some of his original paintings are on display and there will be plenty of cards and books to look at too.

Other Calne Music and Arts Festival events
‘Drink and draw’ at the Piggy Bank Micropub is always a popular event during the Festival. This sounds like a fun evening – no artistic talent needed, just oodles of enthusiasm – so if you like to draw and have a drink join this event at the Piggy Bank, Calne on Monday 10 October at 7pm – again, you can book tickets on the CMAF website.

Numerous musical events take place as part of the Festival including performances by Opera Anywhwere, The Serenata Guitar Trio, The Yehudi Menuhin School, the Kassia Trio, jazz duo Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow, the Calne Singers performing ‘Songs from the Shows’, sea shanty singers the Roaring Trowmen, Tim Hughes takes you through ‘120 years of the Blues’ and a piano recital by accomplished accompanist and chamber musician Helen Davies.

Local schools are taking part too: 17 year old Royal Wootten Bassett Academy student, Louis Stephenson, gives a piano recital, music scholars from Marlborough College perform a lunchtime recital, music scholars of St Mary’s School, Calne, perform on a variety of instruments, primary schools in and around Calne present ‘Songs from Disney’, and the Kingsbury Green Academy Music Department give a late evening concert.

To book your tickets for any of the Festival events please visit its website.

In other news: solo show by Catherine Beale - 'home ground' at The Packhorse, Bath
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Local watercolour artist, Catherine Beale, is staging an exhibition of new works inspired by her home ground - the villages and valleys around The Packhorse pub in South Stoke, Bath BA2 7DU. For this exhibition Catherine brings together a collection of rich watercolours celebrating the area, drawing on sunlight effects, quiet spaces and trees that mark time passing.

Exhibition dates:                                 
Opening night on Thursday 20 October from 5pm – 10pm.
Friday 21 October – coffee and demo with the artist at 11am. Exhibition open until 11pm.
Saturday 22 October – open from 12 noon to 11pm.
Final day Sunday 23 October – 12 noon to 6pm.

NB Catherine is also giving a demonstration to Lacock Art Group on Thursday 24 November. We will give more information about this in a future blog post.