The organisers have endeavoured to build on the growing success of the Festival in 2012 by planning an Artsfest which will encompass all the major art forms with an emphasis on encouraging the development of the arts in Flintshire. This year’s Artsfest promises to be an exciting mix of performances and workshops with something to suit all tastes.
Artsfest ‘12 will take place between 11 March and 25 March 2012 and will be welcoming some amazing artists such as Ian McMillan and Tony Husband, poet and cartoonist, and Mike Harding, singer songwriter. Young people from all over the county will perform and take part in workshops with internationally renowned artists such as Glass Artist, Rhian Haf and dance company NewDance.
The creative residents of Flintshire will have the opportunity to work with photographer Paul Sampson, jewellery maker Alison Bailey Smith and other arts and crafts experts from around the region.
Performances and workshops will be located across the county including Rhosesmor Village Hall, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Connah’s Quay Civic Hall, Gwaenysgor Village Hall and Flint Library, to name but a few.
Tuesday 13 March sees the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra performing at the Clwyd Room, Clwyd Theatr Cymru. This award-winning Orchestra, unbeaten in the BBC National Big Band Competition for twenty years, has toured the USA, Canada and Europe and performed with the likes of Jamie Cullum, Marion Montgomery, Jacqui Dankworth and Georgie Fame. In 2011, it featured with the BBC Big Band in a double-header for Radio 2. If it’s excitement you want, this wonderful outfit, led by the well-known trumpeter John Ruddick, of the late Don Lusher’s Big Band, has it in abundance.
In partnership with Twisted Banana Promotions, on 16 March, Flintshire Artsfest is thrilled to welcome top Welsh indie-rockers ‘Masters in France’, recently on Radio 1’s playlist. We also welcome Deeside’s own techno-rock duet ‘I Am Austin’, featured on Channel 4’s Evo Music Rooms last year and also Chester’s finest ‘The Suns’ to Connah’s Quay Civic Hall at 7.30pm.
Hawarden High School will be hosting this year’s Flintshire County Music School’s Artsfest Concert, which promises to be an inspirational evening of beautiful music by Flintshire’s most talented young singers and musicians, including the Senior County Youth Choir, String Orchestra, Wind Orchestra and Jazz Band. This fantastic experience, not to be missed, will take place on Friday 16 March.
There will also be a fantastic opportunity to see beautiful and intriguing work by members of the Flintshire Visual Arts and Craft Network. The exhibition in the Holywell Art & Craft Mill will comprise of various skills and techniques from painting to quilting, jewellery making to woodturning.
The festival will be closed with a musical extravaganza at Clwyd Theatr Cymru where the Steppin’ Out singers will be performing pieces from the Great American Song Book on Sunday 25 March.
The full programme of events to be held during Artsfest ’12 will be available on the Council’s website at www.flintshire.gov.uk, or please contact the Artsfest Office on 01352 702471. To book a ticket for any of the above events, please contact the Clwyd Theatr Cymru Box Office on 0845 3303565.
