For two weeks every summer Ipswich becomes the focus for a celebration of music, dance, drama, comedy, art, literature film and sculpture with the Ip-art Festival.
Now in its sixth year, Ip-art has established itself as a major event in Ipswich's cultural calendar, attracting increasingly large audiences drawn not only from Ipswich and Suffolk, but also from London and beyond.
Dates: Saturday 28 June to Sunday 13 July 2008
Literary events:
- Author's talks by Libby Purves, Helen Dunmore and Toby Litt
- Creative writing workshops and a short story competition
- Children's literature day
- An examination of the increasingly popularity of the graphic novel, with contributions by Paul Gravett, Bryan Talbot and Hannah Berry
Music events:
- The Ipswich Orchestral Society concert, with soloist Julian Lloyd-Webber
- Bring It and Sing It – a musical extravaganza in the centre of Ipswich
- Ipswich Music Day, the largest one-day music event in the East of England, with six separate stages showcasing music from jazz, soul and blues to classical and rock, all in the glorious surroundings of Christchurch Park.
Visual Arts:
The theme for this year's visual arts is 'colour'. Visitors will be able to savour a true colour experience as they walk through tubes of colour in the 'Colour Dome'; appreciate a wide range of exhibitions by artists old and new working in a variety of mediums and styles; participate in workshops, and witness a demonstration of chainsaw sculpture.
Drama:
Eastern Angles will stage 'We didn't mean to go to Sea' on the Waterfront, and theatre-lovers are invited to combine drama with dinner at various restaurants around the town.
This is just a small sample of the entertainment on offer.
The Festival Brochure, with full details of all the events, will be available from Tuesday 6 May 2008.
For further information visit www.ip-art.com (opens in new window)