This year’s Midsomer Arts Festival began last Saturday, 9th June with a Photo Marathon. Local residents of all ages spent three hours wandering around Midsomer Norton, taking photographs on set themes, and then handed the photographs in at 1 p.m., to be printed and displayed as part of the Arts Festival.

Year Ten students at Norton Hill School recently spent a whole day with artist, MimiInc., creating large artworks. Mimi has experience creating various types of artwork, including large-scale street art.

The students were invited to develop their own imaginative ideas based around eyes. After looking at photographs and other artists’ work, they made some large drawings before starting work on large boards. Mainly using acrylic paint, they each did very individual and original interpretations of eyes.

The students really enjoyed the workshop, many of them working through their break and lunchtimes. The artworks will be displayed in the Hollies Garden as part of the Festival on Saturday, 23rd June. Mimi and three other street artists, Dee Kay, Guts, and Dirty will be creating very large original works during the day, alongside all the other activities taking place.

A variety of other art by primary and secondary school pupils will also be displayed, and there will be lots of art activities for all ages, as well as art to view and buy.

Forthcoming Festival events include Helena’s Harmony singing workshop on Thursday, 21st June, and a performance of ‘La Boheme’ by Bath Opera on Friday, 22nd, both at the Town Hall. These events have been popular in the past, so purchasing tickets in advance is advised.

The Festival signature event takes place on Saturday, 23rd June, in the Hollies Garden. This is an Art, Craft and Food Market, which will also include several graffiti artists creating original artworks, puppet shows, art workshops and activities, and music and performances. There will also be exhibitions and displays of artwork created by local schools, community groups and individuals. Local bands and musicians will be performing, as well as local groups, such as Merriman Theatre Group, Sue Hill Dance and Norton Hill School.

The Festival finishes with a musicians showcase on Sunday, 24th June, with performances by individuals and groups from the local area and further afield. This is always a great event to close the Festival.

During the Festival, there is the usual exhibitions of Artwork in shops and other venues around Midsomer Norton, made by local school students and members of the local community. This year, there is a very exciting and high-quality exhibition by Sixth Form students at the PaperWorkPlus shop, and TV screens in shop windows showing artworks.

Tickets for all events are available through the Midsomer Norton Community Trust, and further information is available on the Trust website and the Midsomer Arts Festival facebook page.