A SPECIAL bus, painted up with festival colours, will this week help launch Ip-art 2008, the region's best and brightest summer arts fortnight.
Ip-art 2008 kicks off on Saturday 28th June and runs until Sunday 13th July, with more than 60 events ranging from poetry and comedy to visual arts and Ipswich Music Day. More than 200,000 visitors are expected at the many festival venues.
The Mayor of Ipswich, David Hale, will be launching Ip-art 2008, joined by Councillor Judy Terry, Ipswich Borough Council's Arts, Culture & Leisure portfolio-holder, and representatives from the festival's principal sponsor, National Express.
Councillor Terry said: "Ip-art is well-established in the town's cultural calendar, bringing an ever broader range of events to even wider audiences. The festival offers a chance for people of all ages to take part. We are grateful to all our sponsors and supporters, especially our principal sponsor, National Express, who help to promote the festival throughout Essex, Suffolk, and all the way to London."
Andrew Chivers, Managing Director National Express East Anglia said: "National Express East Anglia is again delighted to sponsor Ip-art. The festival is now an established feature of the Suffolk and East Anglia scene and as the region's train operator we are pleased to be part of its continued success."
Check out www.ip-art.com (opens in a new window) for further details. The Ip-art festival brochure, with full details of all the events, is available now from many outlets around Suffolk and Essex and can be downloaded from the website.
Festival Highlights
In its sixth year, the Ip-art line-up of events is bigger and better than ever. Festival visitors can look forward to a varied and eclectic mix of music, arts and entertainments, from side-splitting comedy, diverse dance, literary events and, remarkable art workshops, plus everyone's favourite free family event: Ipswich Music Day on 6th July. As always, two open-air film screenings will be held in Christchurch Park, along with the Indian Summer Mela, which draws the festival to a close on 13th July.
Music Events:
- The Ipswich Orchestral Society will be in concert to kick off the festival, with soloist Julian Lloyd–Webber (28th June 7,30pm, Grand Hall Corn Exchange)
- Ipswich Sings – a musical extravaganza with Ipswich Festival Orchestra in the centre of Ipswich where anyone can take part. You can bring your instruments along and play- or sing. (Cornhill, 29th June) To get involved email syrinx-ipart@msn.com, visit www.ipswichcentral.com (opens in a new window), or phone 07927 429284.
- 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. (Sunday 6th July).
- New music with an international flavour can be heard with the sounds of BritGos from Freddie Kofi (Friday 4th July, Town Hall). Get "Barefoot into the Jungle" with DJ Suga Kann (Sunday 5th July, St Nicholas Centre), and listen to Caribbean influenced French Atissou Loko Adjabel. (Friday 11th July, Ipswich Town Hall)
- Enjoy a high-energy folk dance and music spectacular with the "Demon Barbers' Roadshow" on Saturday 12th July in the Grand Hall at The Corn Exchange. The band has a unique sound and features performances from some of the finest young morris and clog dancers in the country.
Visual Arts:
- The theme for this year's festival is 'colour'. Visitors will be able to savour a true colour experience as they walk through tubes of colour in the 'Colour Dome' (Monday 30th June, Cornhill); appreciate a wide range of exhibitions by artists old and new working in a variety of mediums and styles; participate in some fantastic workshops, and witness a demonstration of chainsaw sculpture in Christchurch park on 3rd and 4th July.
Performing Arts:
- Eastern Angles will stage 'We didn’t mean to go to sea' against the amazing backdrop of the Ipswich Waterfront (3rd- 6th July), and theatre lovers are also invited to combine drama with dinner whilst watching local drama company Switchseats performing "April in Paris" at the Salthouse Harbour Hotel (Sunday 29th & Monday 30th June) about Brits abroad.
- Heartbreak Productions are also performing a magical version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in the open air of Christchurch Mansion Lawn (Wednesday 2nd July), while comedy fans will be tempted by Jokers Comedy Club (Sunday 6th July), Moths ate my Doctor Who Scarf (Thursday 10th July), and the legendary and brilliantly engaging Michael McIntyre (Thursday 10th July, Corn Exchange).
- DanceEast invites you to get involved with all kinds of dance classes and performances, such as High Voltage, an annual celebration of dance in the East of England (27th & 28th June, New Wolsey Theatre), and Big Dance goes East, and Big Dance in to the Night (Both Saturday 5th July, Corn Exchange). "Big Dance goes East" are hosting a free dance trade fair in the Limelight bar area of the Corn Exchange, and six hours of non-stop dance classes will be offer, from ballet to ballroom, Musical Theatre to Latin American, hip hop to Salsa and there are even classes for tiny tots to try out their first dance steps!
Film:
- Two classic love tales, "Ghost" (Friday 11th July) and "Dirty Dancing" (Saturday 12th July) will be featured in the open air screenings at Christchurch park, as well as screenings at the Hollywood Film Theatre of the trilogy based on the colours of the French flag, "Three colours: Blue", "White" and "Red" by acclaimed Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski (opens in a new window). (29th & 30th June - film times vary)
- Film enthusiasts must check out the "Shoot the Scene Film Festival" taking place on 11th & 12th July at Exposure on Princes St, where the work of local film makers will be showcased, alongside talks, workshops and live music. For more details see www.photo-space.co.uk (opens in a new window).
Literary events:
- The Children's literature day kicks off the festival on Saturday 28th June at St Joseph's college, where five well known children's authors read their works outloud (Tickets £3 and £5 depending on event).
- An array of author talks are taking place including a Literary lunch with Libby Purves (Sunday 29th June, Admiral's House, 13 Tower Street). The £18 ticket price includes sausages, mash and a glass of rose!
- Helen Dunmore gives a talk about her recent Novel "Counting the Stars"; the £7 ticket price includes a glass of wine (Friday 4th July) and Toby Litt talks about his latest work "I play the drums in a band called Okay" (Wed 2nd July, Tickets also £7)
- There's a variety of Creative writing workshops and the winners of this years short story competition will be announced on Saturday 5th July at the Ipswich Institute, 5pm. It's free to turn up but please phone in advance to book a space - 01473 253992.