22 April – 7 May 2017 Cheltenham celebrate challenge entertain engage christianartsfestival.org m fro ps ho h ks arc or M W 11 Book online at christianartsfestival.org Book online at christianartsfestival.org It’s my joy to introduce this second Christian Arts Festival in Cheltenham. The SSee e e AArt: r t : DifferentlyDiffereently theme this year is ‘Wings’ , a resonant word from the Bible, reminding of God’s care, the shelter we find in him, and the experience of soaring with wonder and renewed strength . Wings speak to us also of the creative Spirit of God, hovering over the face of creation and as a dove when Jesus was baptised. Creativity, strength and wonder are all reflected in the marvellous, exciting programme of events. We are grateful to a wonderful team who are all volunteers who have worked and will continue to work to see that it all becomes a reality. They are amazing people and through their work, the Christian Arts Festival is something of which Cheltenham can be justly proud. Tudor Griffiths Area Dean of Cheltenham and Chair of the Christian Arts Festival Jesus held out his hand to everyone and as teacher, healer and miracle maker showed us the true nature of God. We see all around us in nature how our Almighty Creator designs and crafts giving us the gifts to do likewise. We hope through these many expressions of creativity that faith is nurtured, awakened and shared with those searching or simply curious . I find a desire and thirst in a troubled contemporaryontemporaryry world to connect with a spiritual dimension which can give wings to our souls and purpose to our being. There’s much brightness to light up the Easter holidays of our young people in the Festival. I believe the success of the first festival was down to the ‘Power of Prayer’ and now as coordinator of the Cheltenham Prayer for Schools Network, how wonderful to witness answered prayers through our prayer groups, schools, teachers and children. CHELTENHAMCHELLTENHAMTENHAM RACECOURSERACECOURRSE Nikki Seville Project Manager and Trustee – Visual Arts 12-14122-142 14 MAYMAAYY 201720117 What a terrific privilege to be able to offer so many richly creative and refreshing experiences as part of our 20 17 Festival – come and sing, come and try See 45 leadingleeading UK Galleries in oneo place something new, come and think again, come and dig deeper into your own God-given creativity. Often we can feel more stressed than blessed – well, here is Find thet art you’ll lovelove to livelivve with the perfect antidote , for in His presence is FULLNESS of joy!! PaintingsPaintings andd sculpture for all tastestastees and budgets Beck Donaldson Trustee – Music Programming The theme of this year’s festival, Wings, gives us a chance to look up from our earthly patch and to think how we may soar. Working as one to produce art, or reading scriptures from different faiths together, or thinking about how we may freely express our longings and hopes, this year’s festival makes a space for all . As image bearers of the God who created us, let’s discover the beauty in our neighbour and the joy of our craft. Georgina Jardim Trustee – Interfaith Advisor 10 MINUTESMINUUTES OFF M5: FREE PARKING:PPARKING: From 11 March and during the last week of the Easter holidays for young people, FFREE R E E BBONHA O N H AAMS M S VAVALUAVALUA L U ATATIONSTIONS I O N S OON N YOYOUR U R OOL LLD D PAPAINTINGSPAINTINGS I N T I N G S many free creative workshops; new beginnings to learn new skills and take part . If you are struggling financially, concessions are available on some ticketed events: contact: [email protected] Christian Arts Festival cannot accept liability for any loss, damage or injury sustained by any member of the public visit:freshartfair::freshartfair.net visiting any exhibition or event, who do so at their own risk. Every effort has been made to ensure all times and details are correct at time of going to press. 2 Follow us on Y X For further information call 01242 898403 3 Book online at christianartsfestival.org Book online at christianartsfestival.org E V E Acknowledgements and Thanks N T Our funders Cheltenham Borough Council Community Pride, S Sylvanus Lysons Charity, Christ Church World Missions, Open the Book and Bible Society, Diocese of Gloucester Development Fund, The Pratt Green Trust, a local clergy family, Clare Holland Eyecare and Jenny Golding. Our Cheltenham Christian Arts Chair Tudor Griffiths and Trustees Nikki Seville, Poetry and Pints Wow! How? Now... Beck Donaldson and Georgina Jardim also thank all those holding events free Thursday 9 February, 7.30pm, Frog & Fiddle Friday 21 April, 7pm, The Oasis Centre of charge, Anthony Oliver, (Fundraising Consultant and many other roles), ‘Soar High on Wings like Eagles’. Join Dr Matt Pritchard – The Science Magician – as he presents a show crammed with his favourite Gill Sage (Tudor’s Secretary), Art Shape, iSingPop, Alan Waller (Treasurer), A foretaste of the Christian Arts Festival. ‘Poetry Live at the Mic’ hosted by Tudor Griffiths, tricks, stunts and puzzles that will both amaze and David Keffler, Colin Albert, Fibre Marketing (Website), Andi Foster (Facebook), chair of the festival. Inspired by your faith journey, astound. Wonder is all around us but sometimes Art Works Design Consultants (brochure and much more!), Adam Legge, a personal experience or a cause close to your heart, we just need to know where to look. Matt is an the theme of the festival: Wings or bring a favourite Associate of the inner Magic Circle and a lapsed Mike Smith, Ian Hart and Andy Macauly (Childre n/Youth), Wendy Corless poem. atomic physicist. (Secretary), Committee members, Val Ralston, Shirley Collins, Neil Fix, Ages: 10 years + Sue Holbrook, Melissa Webb, Vivien Northcote, Ella Summers, Royse Murphy, Liz Robertson, Clare Holland, Marguerite Brown, Amanda Wragg, Adam Bertrand Tickets: £5 on the door £3 for participants Tickets: £5 Youth (10-18 yrs) : Free and Michelle Thomasson. R Open Mic Music A LY 15% Early Bird Discounts are available on E Competition some events when booked by 28 February. 1B5% Tuesday 18 April, 7pm, I R D Look out for this symbol on events listings The Pillar Room, Cheltenham Town Hall Inviting our amazing young talented musicians under 16 and 16-20 age groups. Singers, singer songwriters, rappers, groups, solo instrumentalists to take the mic live at The Pillar Room, Cheltenham Town Hall. Main prize of one day’s recording in Studio 340. Please register your entry before 13 April 20 17 to [email protected] Adults & 15yrs+: £5 12- 15 yrs: £2 Under 12s: Free Contestants: £4 per musical act Supported by a local clergy family Front Cover Image: Detail from Siku (Manga Bible) Luke 10 :18 Don’t let Y @ChristianArtsCH money stop you from Registered Charity Number 11 6411 7 joining in... talk to us! 4 Follow us on Y X For further information call 01242 898403 5 Book online at christianartsfestival.org E V S T Big Sing 17 E N N E Saturday 22 April, 7pm, T S V Cheltenham Town Hall E After last year’s sell-out event BBC Songs of Praise Musical Director David Ogden returns to lead a massed community choir and orchestra for live music and choral event. Exhilarating with loads of audience participation! Tickets: £15, £12, Family of 4: £30 Tickets available from Cheltenham Biblical Women In and Out Francofonia Town Hall Box Office 0844 576 2210 of Trouble with Professor Philip French film with subtitles (12) Tuesday 25 April, 7.30pm, Esler, University of Gloucestershire Highbury Congregational Church Tuesday 25 April, 7.30pm, The Wilson Inspire, Challenge, Change? Philip has a long-standing interest in Art and the In Francofonia, Alexander Sukurov accompanies Supported by Christian faith and will be exploring how women like us through the Louvre in 1940s Paris as France is Abigail, Bathsheba, Esther, Susannah, Judith and Mary occupied. He describes his masterpiece as ‘an elegy Magdalen, who get into and out of trouble, have been for Europe’ it is very much a meditation for our times portrayed in the biblical text and in paintings down on art and its capacity to inspire and to challenge in the ages. a war-torn world. Tickets: £8 Full time students: £2 Donations at the event Creation Sings the Scriptural Reasoning Jazz Rouge Questioning Aslan Father’s Song from the Bible and Quran Wednesday 26 April, 7.30pm, All Saint’s Church An evening with CS Lewis by Sunday 23 April, 6.30pm, St Matthew’s Church Tuesday 25 April, 7.30pm, Faith Space, First day – Jazz Festival! The thrill of Live Jazz in this Searchlight Theatre Company University of Gloucestershire, Park Campus ‘mini cathedral of the Arts and Crafts movement.’ Caedmon’s Song with The Cotswold Community Group JOHN BETJEMAN Thursday 27 April, 7.30pm, Salem Church of the Northumbria Community. A time of gentle, shared ‘Let’s improve the quality of our disagreements.’ Guitarist Andy Rushton and singer Jess Blatchley are It’s I958 and Oxford Professor, CS Lewis’ protégé is worship inspired by the spirituality of the Celtic church, DAVID FORD, FOUNDER OF SCRIPTURAL REASONING disillusioned with a world in economic downturn while AT CAMBRIDGE INTERFAITH PROGRAMME joined by musicians from all over the UK to bring us with music, song, prayer and story. These faithful classic ballads, infectious Latin American rhythms, the Cold War is building. Where or what can he turn to: Come together to look at themes common to the Christians brought the light of the gospel to our land.