Newcastle Arts Festival Draws Closer

th- Saturday 27^th to Sunday 28^th. The events will be taking place in various locations around the town and will run all through the day, catering for all ages and tastes writes Claira Cinnamond. A varied programme has provided a platform for local artists from all backgrounds, musicians from blues to classical to pop/rock, classic film, poetry and digital photograph workshops, arts and crafts events, pop up galleries, street dance and comedy performances. Geoff Ingram, the originator of the innovative Newcastle Arts Festival said, “It seems clear we have spotted an area in which Newcastle could benefit from and we are definitely going some distance towards addressing the issue in a relatively short time really. http://www.facebook.com/groups/newcastleartsfestival/ [caption id="attachment_27115" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="The Red Hot Roosters appearing in the Newcastle Arts Festival."][/caption] “We really began work on the project in February, and we have put together an impressive festival hosting an array of acts which gives the people of Newcastle and farther afield something new and adds a fresh artistic dimension to the town’s character and calendar. “While the event has received some funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland the Newcastle Arts festival is largely the product of much fund raising done by the 10-person committee and the help of local businesses. “As organisers we are keen to stress the sense of community spirit encountered when promoting the project with many people being very keen to help and become involved in whatever capacity they can. “Many publicans and performer have been prepared to take a chance on the festival and have taken a generous and open minded approach. The enthusiasm may be partly due to the fact that the festival offers something for everyone, all ages and backgrounds can find an event they may be interested in or something new they may like to try. “From the baby sensory event on Sunday to the old time dance in the Annesley hall on Saturday, the festival has been designed to accommodate all the family and offer the opportunity to experience something different. “Great effort have been to made to try to keep costs down for those attending the festival and in fact the majority of events are free with only some of the bigger and perhaps more well-known artists playing ticketed performances. “These include comedian Jake O’Kane who plays St Mary’s Hall on Saturday and a music event in Newcastle Centre on Sunday evening. Tickets for these events will be available from the Tourist Information Centre. “The Arts Festival is also planning on playing off its amusing acronym of NAF with some merchandise such as slogan t-shirts available, showing the festival’s sense of humour and helping to raise more funds. “While this is the first time something of this scale and type has been organised in Newcastle, it is certainly an area that seems neglected and we are quietly confident that the weekend should go relatively well without a hitch. It has all come together remarkably well and has been a real team effort. “We are hopeful that it would become an annual event and something that could be perhaps developed and extended in the years to come, attracting other local talents and artists, added Geoff Ingram. http://www.facebook.com/groups/newcastleartsfestival/]]>