Arundel Festival of the Arts is promising unique virtual summer showcase
Sharon Blaikie, chairman of the Arundel Festival of the Arts Committee, said the festival would be moving from the streets to the screens for 2020 to “help showcase and keep alive the wonderful tradition of arts entertainment, culture and community events in the town.” She promised a programme that will appeal to all generations.
Organisers of the festival, a registered charity, have enlisted the services of media production company beechtobeach to make a nightly show to play at 8.20pm every day of the ten-day festival (August 21-31) on YouTube: “In addition, many performers including the Hanover Band, will be live streaming during the festival. Acts ranging from music to dance and theatre as well as history tours and the visual arts are being filmed from this week to be part of the Arundel Festival of the Arts Virtual show which will be presented by Arundel resident Daisy Watson.”
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Hide AdSharon added: “We knew it was too risky to put on live acts all over the town but with so much talent and creativity in our community and beyond we didn’t want 2020 to be cancelled altogether. This way we can keep our audience entertained, promote Arundel and its businesses and create content to keep up interest for 2021”.
Former BBC London Head and beechtobeach director Jane Mote is leading the production team: “We are delighted to be helping to support our local town and the arts at this time. We are used to the challenge of producing great content during lockdown and are confident we will be able to capture the spirit of the festival and create a fun show with lots of films that can be used across social media.”
beechtobeach is working with others from Akin – Arundel’s creative collective – to bring the Arundel Festival of the Arts alive. Graphic designer Sue Robertson has created a new logo for the re-branded festival and director of Simplified Ideas, Karl Salter, has built a new website.
Sharon added: “We are building the foundations for a festival that is here to stay and determined to be bigger and better in 2021. We hope to have a few surprises along the way. A huge amount of work is put in by the committee and volunteers behind the scenes to ensure the community spirit of this unique festival is kept alive and this is embraced by the residents and businesses for which we are grateful.
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Hide Ad“We are thrilled that Jane Mote and the Akin team are on board with their outstanding expertise: a showcase not to be missed!
“We recognise how important it is to nurture these events and voluntary groups and organisations which contribute to making Arundel such a special place to live, work and visit.”
Artists and acts this year will include: Kate Bush tribute, Superstrings, Marvin Ford, Sirens Acoustic, Will Hall, Joe Butt, Frank Regester, Big House, Dutch Criminal Record, Murdoch’s Crazy Eyes, Dawns Vintage Do, Dave Stewart Magic, Nick Cook’s Fire Show, Happy’s Circus, Dramatic Truth Ballet Theatre, Abba on the Hill and The White Bus Group.
AFOTA (Arundel Festival of the Arts) is run by volunteers and the committee, chaired by Sharon Blaikie,
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Hide AdAFOTA also includes Frank Register, Joe Butt, Kirsty Wilgoss, Jo Johnstone, Jules Rumbold, Victoria Clarke, Sarah Woods, Jason Wickens and Vanessa Wickens.
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