An annual arts festival featuring the brightest and best of the creative members of the Manx community is getting ready to open on Saturday.
The Isle of Man Art Festival will take place over Bank Holiday weekend, and will feature open access to the studios, workshops and work areas, unveiling the work of around 50 painters, crafters, potters, woodworkers and many more local artists across the island.
This year’s festival will take in many more locations than before, with centres and exhibition areas being held in venues, from a hidden retreat in Tholt-y-Will to a unique chance to access one of the most recognisable landmarks in the island.
The movement was once known as the Western Art Trail, and was primarily centred around the Corrin Hall and the House of Mannanan in Peel .
However, the festival was last year rebranded as the Isle of Man Arts festival, and saw it included more locations island-wide.
Myra Gilbert, one of the organisers, said that they were hoping to build on the success of last year’s festival, which saw more than 1,000 people take part.
’Last year we took the leap from being based primarily in Peel and the west to being an island-wide event,’ she said.
’This proved to be a great success, and we expect the festival to keep on growing each year.
’This year we have extended north and south to include new venues such as the Castletown Civic Centre, The Hub in Port Erin and Sulby.’
The House of Mannanan will still host a wide range of artists, including ceramicist Celine Appleyard, photographer Patricia Tutt, painters Bruno Cavellec, Val Gilpin and Di Beckerson and a display of viking jewellery making by Susanne Ekdahl.
Also in Peel will be an installation by Helen Fox, comprising a grotto made entirely from sea shells, which is intended to create a ’multi-sensory experience for sight, sound and touch’.
Off the beaten track is the Glen Mooar Cottage Retreat, a new venue for this year, run by crafter Sue Quilliam at Tholt-y-Wll. This will feature a wide range of artists , from wood carver Gavin Carter to wool crafter Sara Hogg, fine artist Rosie Wood and two artists who specialises in bringing magical fairy-tale characters to life, Julie Roberts and Julia Ashby-Smyth.
Another new venue is situated in the Castletown Civic centre, where Erica Kermode will be sculpting clay animals and painters Laura Espinosa and Ellie Baker, among others, will be displaying their talents. Wood carver Gavin Carter will also be demonstrating his techniques.
The Civic Centre will also screen the short film made to celebrate the ’Moylley yn Burroo, the ’Drinking Dragon’ rock off the Calf of Man, produced by Scottish visual artist Keith MacIntyre, along with students from the Isle of Man College.
The Grenaby Art Studios will again open their doors, with six different artists displaying their work. Wood turner Graham Hall and well-known Manx artist Nicola Dixon will be there, along with the chance to try your hand at laser-engraving, with the help of Rosie Glassey.
Displays in Ramsey will involve illustrator Alice Quayle showing a range of her quirky maps at Ramsey Tram station, and there will also be a range of photographers and painters at Ramsey Town Hall.
The most unusual venue is to be run in conjunction with the Isle of Architecture project. An audio-visual piece, produced by local musicians Corkwing and Sandfingers will accompany the chance to look around the Crow’s Nest, at the Sea Terminal.
The established galleries, the Sayle at the Villa Marina, the Isle gallery at Tynwald Mills and the Hodgson Loom Gallery in Laxey will also be open throughout the weekend.
The Isle of Man Art Festival is organised by The Creative Network, an artists’ cooperative and is supported by the Isle of Man Arts Council, Manx National Heritage, Peel Commissioners and partner galleries.
Entrance to studios, demonstrations and exhibition venues for the full three days will be by purchase of a festival passport at £5 with all under 18s going free. All venues will be open between 11am and 5pm each day.
Festival passports are available from the festival at venues during the event.
by Mike Wade
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