Lindfield Arts Festival hosts blues gig at Bent Arms

As a part of their stand-alone events this year, Lindfield Arts Festival is hosting a music event on 30th June upstairs at The Bent Arms.

Together with a support act, Brooks Williams and Aaron Catlow will bring a bluesy-folk vibe with their guitar and fiddle performance. Aaron Catlow is a master violinist and half of the Bristol-based duo Hawes and Catlow, with guitarist-singer Kit Hawes. Cambridge UK-based, Georgia US-born, Brooks Williams has a longstanding solo career in both North America and the UK. He is named one of WUMB-FM Boston’s Top 100 All-Time Artists.

For further information about the artists: www.brookswilliams.com Tickets for the LAF event cost £10, and are available from https://williamsandcatlow.eventbrite.co.uk

Lindfield Arts Festival 2019 - round-up

By Ayesha Gilani

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Lindfield Arts Festival 2019

Lindfield Arts Festival celebrated its tenth anniversary with a record number of visitors. More than 5,000 people descended on the village to enjoy the arts.

From Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd September Lindfield opened its doors to celebrate and showcase local artists and performers of all ages.

During the week highlights included a sell-out comedy night and performances from award-winning musicians Aynsley Lister and Liane Carroll.

On Saturday festivalgoers basked in glorious sunshine. The High Street and Common buzzed with bumper crowds enjoying live theatre, circus skills, visual arts, dance, classic cars, flowers, literary and drawing workshops, food and music from local DJs.

Lindfield's Got Talent - LAF Bursary Fund

Our amazing LAF £1,000 bursary is once again up for grabs!

Applications are now open and we’re calling all villagers aged seven to 100 to apply via our website www.2019.lindfieldartsfestival.com. Judges will be looking for the applicant that demonstrates a clear desire to start or continue an arts discipline. The bursary was set up in 2018 to inspire creativity and give something back to the community.

Last year’s winner, Tom Mackewn, impressed judges with his passion to pursue a career in children’s book illustration. The 37-year-old Lindfield resident said: “It was a really lovely feeling to win and be validated for my craft. I’ve used some of the funds to further my illustrating skills at Chelsea College of Arts. I particularly enjoy character design and look forward to showcasing my work at the next Lindfield Arts Festival.”

Lindfield Arts Festival - 21st-23rd Sept 2018

It is bigger and better than ever! The 9th Lindfield Arts Festival showcases both new and upcoming local performing and fine artists whilst encouraging the community to celebrate the unique spirit of Mid Sussex’s culture. On Saturday 22nd September there will be fresh food stalls and plenty of seating in the High Street to watch, listen and meet friends and family whilst enjoying performances by local musicians, dance and drama students and a wealth of entertainment all day long.

Amongst the full programme of events there will be an amazing Art Trail, including open studios and an exhibition at Lindfield Primary Academy, a craft show and an extraordinary cake display - being filmed by Channel 4 for their Extreme Cake Makers programme. Come and watch live art on cellograff in the High Street, some meaningful drama productions addressing memory and culinary delights respectively as well as a unique display of magnificent interactive structures on the Common for families to explore.

The vibrant pink Literary Tent will host a programme for young and old – come and meet and listen to the published authors and be inspired to start writing. There will be a Strictly Lindfield Tea Dance, with Ballroom and Latin workshops to give you confidence. The two ‘must go to’ performances at the King Edward Hall on Friday and Saturday evenings are: Rockaoke (you can sing and dance along) and FoxiVox! which will lift your spirits as you relax and enjoy their jazz interpretations.

Visit the Lindfield Arts Festival information point on the High Street for last minute festival details and to collect your Scarecrow Trail marking sheet; you will also be able to buy raffle tickets and enter the Porsche spectacular silent auction. A walking tour of the village will allow you to check out the different art studios, events on the Common and the activities in the King Edward Hall and Tamasha courtyard. Returning to the High Street you can enjoy the buzz of the live performances on the main stage, the classic cars and the brilliant community orchard display by most of Lindfield’s local associations and clubs in the United Reformed Church.

There are many workshops for you and your family to join, many of which are free of charge. Places may be limited, so advance booking is recommended. 

For full programme information and reservations see www.lindfieldartsfestival.com

Lindfield Arts Festival secures high profile bursary judges

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Katie Derham, Lynn Tulip & Hilary Knight

Katie Derham, Nick Broomfield, Leesa Le May and Robin Belfield will decide which local resident will be the beneficiary of the Festival’s new £1,000 bursary. They will be looking for the applicant who demonstrates a desire to start or continue an arts discipline. The line up was announced at an event last month.

The bursary is open to anyone aged 7-100 and living in the village and surrounding locality. 

Lynn Tulip, Co-Project Manager of the Festival said: “We are thrilled to have such high profile judges on board to award this bursary. Their skills and experience, combined with their love of the village, will be invaluable to the scheme.”

Nick Broomfield, the award-winning documentary film director added: “This is a great idea and a wonderful opportunity for the village.”

Katie Derham, who spoke at the Bursary Fund launch event, said: “I get so excited when I come to Lindfield; there’s so much going on here. The Arts Festival is one fantastic example!”

In other news, the Festival has announced more highlights of its September programme. Sitting alongside its community orchard, arts and crafts activity, and performance, will be a major cake exhibition, a film celebrating the creativity of the village and a local food festival. For more information on these and on how to apply for the bursary visit www.lindfieldartsfestival.com or email enquiries at lindfieldartsfestival.com.

Lindfield Arts Festival - 2017 photo round-up

Lindfield Arts Festival 2017

By Freya Wenstrom

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What a glorious weekend the Lindfield Arts Festival was! It all started on an autumnal Friday evening with the preview evening to thank the generous sponsors and Friends of the Festival. Later on, the hilarious comedy evening took place in the Bent Arms and was extremely well attended. A particular mention must go to Chelsea Hart who had the audience in absolute stitches!

The weather was definitely with us on Saturday morning with the sun shining and putting a smile on everyone’s faces. This was certainly aided by the stilt walkers and the incredible balloon creations by Brighton Circus. In addition, the beautiful dance performance by the Balcombe and Lindfield Dance School in the United Reformed Church got the morning off to a very good start! The High Street was really buzzing all day with amazing dance performances by Turning Pointe School of Dance, Popsteps and Swoove.

A feast for the senses at the 2017 Lindfield Arts Festival

8-10th September 2017

By Kirsten Genard

As summer is hotting up, so is the programme for the Lindfield Arts Festival. Next month sees the return of the eighth annual festival, and this year’s event is looking bigger and better than ever. Whatever you are into and whatever your age, there is something that will fit the bill as the top ticket in town this season.

Families are in for a treat as The High Street transforms with an abundance of activities on offer, including the centre stage with a variety of performances including the return of the circus shows.

Look out for the Dressed Ducks in the shop windows and, if you have ever wanted to learn to crochet or decoupage, then Dolly’s craft van will be the place to go. 

Further afield around the village, a varied programme of arts, drama, dance and entertainment will be taking place. A fine art exhibition will be staged at Lindfield Primary Academy on Saturday and Sunday featuring work by talented local artists and with refreshments from The Bonfire Society, kindly supported by Tisshaws Family Solicitors. On Saturday, innovative Robot Relays see competitors get creative in an almighty battle of the bots on space hoppers whilst supporters cheer from the hay bale amphitheatre.

A mini festival of its own will take place at the United Reformed Church on Saturday, featuring a craft exhibition supported by Handelsbanken with the opportunity to snap up goods. A diverse programme of performances and workshops is also on offer, from drama, dance and creative writing to – wait for it – mutant toy hacking. What could be better than reinventing a toy slightly past its sell by date into a brand new, bespoke creation that will be the envy of the playground? Think Toy Story on steroids!

More activities are being confirmed all the time including two very special evening events on Friday night. Lindfield Coffee Works will host a Poetry Night, featuring a group of Sussex-based local poets including a former musician from the Ronnie Scott’s Club in London, which will set the stage for the Festival on opening night. Meanwhile, Komedia regular Rob Dumbrell, will compère a Comedy Night at the Bent Arms, bringing along some wellknown, tried-and-tested names from the comedy circuit for your amusement. For all you budding comedians, there are a couple of 5 minute stand-up comedy sets up for grabs, if you think you have what it takes!

Registration for workshops and events will open online in mid-August with SWALK acting as the Lindfield Box Office. 

If you would like to contribute in any way or exhibit, perform, play or volunteer during the Festival weekend (8th, 9th, 10th September) please email enquiries@ lindfieldartsfestival.com or call Stix: 07868 879084 for more information.

Lindfield artists set to open their studio

Two Lindfield artists, who met while exhibiting at the Arts Festival in 2015, have joined forces to create what they hope will become a new village tradition. 

Brett Hudson and Georgina (George) Moir will be staging an Open Studio event for families over the Arts Festival weekend this September.

Brett and George were inspired after visiting the Open House Art Trail at the annual Brighton Festival.

“We had both visited open houses and agreed that they provided a lovely and relaxing way to look at art in different surroundings,” said Brett. “With so many creative people in the village and lovely buildings, Lindfield is perfect place for an art trail so we thought we would go for it and open my garden studio!” 

The hope their event will encourage other artists to open up their homes and studios to create an art trail in the village. “It would be great if other artists could join us and open their houses - if not this year, maybe next year,” added Brett.

[Full article in May's Lindfield Life magazine]

Lindfield Arts Festival 2016 - video snapshot

Lindfield's Art Festival, this year on 17th September 2016, when the High Street was closed and featured dozens of acts, shows, workshops and exhibitions. This video features just a few of the highlights of the day to give you an idea of what you missed perhaps, or what you especially enjoyed!

This video brings you just a small selection of the performers and activities at Lindfield Arts Festival 2016. 

Fundraising art sale - Lindfield Arts Festival

A prolific painter, creating abstract works in acrylic, oil and pastel as well as sketches and collages, Alex was also very knowledgeable and appreciative of other artists’ work, particularly early 20th century modern art.
     After being diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies in 2008, Alex continued to paint but as his condition deteriorated it brought his painting career to an end.
     “He was at home, confined to a chair and tragically no longer had the motivation or inspiration to paint, let alone hold a brush,” said Laura. “But he still talked a lot about his art and selling and exhibiting his paintings.”
     Following the death of his wife in 2013, Alex moved to a nursing home where he died in April, aged 82.
     “After the private family funeral, I felt I wanted to have some sort of memorial for him and started thinking about how I could ensure his work would live on,” said Laura.

Full article available on Page 8.

By Claire Cooper
     Fans of abstract art can pick up an original painting and help raise money for Dementia UK at a unique exhibition at this year’s Lindfield Arts Festival.
     Laura Morgan, from Haywards Heath, will be exhibiting and selling the work of her late father, Alex Wilson, who died earlier this year. It will be a fitting tribute to the Eastbourne artist, from the daughter he lost contact with for many years. 
     Laura explained that the family became estranged following her parents’ divorce. “It was only many years later, when I moved to Sussex, that we got back in touch,” Laura recalled.
      “We rebuilt our relationship as adults and found we had much in common, including a shared love of art. I remember as a child he used to sketch a lot but I don’t think he got into art seriously until he reached his sixties.”
     On moving to Eastbourne, Alex set up his own art studio and began to exhibit his work. He also ran a jewellery shop with his wife and became an expert on coins, publishing a well respected coin guide.
     “Alex was an intelligent man; a former chess champion who also enjoyed tennis, cricket and yoga,” said Laura. “He was fit, enthusiastic and full of character, always telling awful jokes!”

Lindfield Arts Festival hosts free music festival

The Lindfield Arts Festival has announced plans to create a fantastic free music festival as part of its programme this coming May. The musical element, organised by Hereward Kaye, Musical Director and Founder of Rok Skool in Haywards Heath, will provide a wonderful showcase for local talent. 

“We listened to the feedback we received from previous visitors which suggested that a large scale performance would be well received and could even become a regular feature each year,” said Gabrielle Hall, Director of the 2013 Festival. “We are thrilled to be working with Herry and his team at Rok Skool. Music is such an important element of the art festival and this year we want to provide a variety of performances and workshops that cater for all tastes.”

This exciting news followed confirmation that the Charity Commission has just registered the Lindfield Arts Festival as a charity. “The organising team is delighted,” said Gabrielle. “It was really important for us to secure the future for the festival which brings thousands of visitors to Lindfield each year,” she said. “We have to raise a substantial amount to pay for the festival and I hope that, with our new charity status, sponsoring the festival will be an even more attractive option for local businesses and funding bodies that we approach,” she continued.  

Full story in February's magazine. www.lindfieldartsfestival.com

Lindfield Arts Festival looks ahead with new director for 2013

By Claire Cooper

For Lindfield businesswoman Gabrielle Hall, life is getting ‘curiouser and curiouser’ – and she is delighted to have taken on a very creative role.

From establishing three of the village’s best loved shops, then moving on to set up a centre for creativity, spirituality and wellbeing in Ardingly, life rarely stands still for Gabrielle who is looking forward to her next exciting challenge – directing next year’s Lindfield Arts Festival, which she describes as stepping into ‘Wonderland.’

“I’ve always been very driven, with a strong sense of community,” said Gabrielle, who lives in the village with her two sons. “There’s a huge part of me that’s incredibly creative, so it’s natural for me to be involved with the Arts Festival. I studied fashion and textiles at art college many years ago and still enjoy creating art.” 

After agreeing to take up the role of Director for the 2013 Arts Festival, which runs from 10th-12th May, Gabrielle’s first job has been to shape the committee and register the Festival as a charity. “I’ve been delighted by the group of talented people who have volunteered their services,” she said. “We now have a committee of 20 plus people full of ideas and enthusiasm who share my vision and passion. This means we can really push the boundaries and already have some amazing ideas that could take the Festival to a whole new level!”

The theme of next year’s Festival is Imagination, Fantasy and Fairytales. “It’s all about stepping out of our normal reality and into wonderland,” said Gabrielle.

Excerpt from December 2012's magazine. Read more in the magazine, p.28