The coolest street festival ever is back! Gloucestershire’s Art Couture Painswick (ACP) festival hits the mean streets of Painswick on 17th July and is set to be bigger and better than ever! Set in the streets of Painswick, the festival transforms this pretty Cotswold town into a vision of colour and creativity. Take a look at some of the amazing photographs in this blog taken by Mike Lomax.
The town will be taken over by artists of all ages, showcasing their incredible work before judges on a catwalk.
The judges for this year’s festival are to be confirmed, but past members of the panel have included Selina Blow, Lily Allen, Savannah Miller and Emma Samms.
Now in its sixth year, the festival has grown enormously since its inauguration back in 2010 and ACP have opened a gallery as an all-year round platform, displaying previous festival creations while providing a retail outlet for local designer-makers.
A decision was made to hold the festival every other year, using the interim years to engage and inspire through a number of other events and exhibitions – last year ACP organised ‘Off The Wall 2015’ held at the gallery from 1 August – 13 September 2015 which showcased world class designs from the liked of Alexander McQueen and Philip Treacy.
ACP work on collaborative projects with Cheltenham Festivals, Stroud Ambitions and local schools such as Chosen Hill, Westonbirt, Stroud High, Thomas Keble and Archway.
They have established a good relationship with the University of Gloucestershire with a focus on work placements and festival engagement; this allows students valuable work experience in a variety of creative vocations.
The Festival programme is underway with themes for 2016 as follows:
Wearable Art
-Moving Parts
-Underwater
-Flight
Creative Headwear
-Graffiti
Body Art
-Food for thought
The categories for both Wearable Art and Creative Headwear will be:
Independent Designer
Open (under 12)
Open (12-17)
College student
Open (adult)
Judie Hill, ACP Trustee & Chair tells us that ACP continues to deliver the ‘wow’ factor!’ – wearable art & body art at its most fabulous and creative best and she’s proud that it’s a Rock the Cotswolds’ Rocker.
The last festival, in 2014, featured creations themed on ‘Reflections, Invasions and Legends’, with ‘Elements’ themed headgear and body art focused on ‘Heroes and Heroines’.
On all three stages there was live music, and in the churchyard a circus skills workshop, creative stalls, entertainment and delicious food from local suppliers.
ACP Trustee, Debra Drew adds that ACP was one of the first rockers for a very good reason. Like Rock the Cotswolds, it exists to showcase the incredible talent and creativity which can be found right here in the glorious Cotswold countryside.
Ticket prices are:
Adults – £8
Advance tickets £6
Children under 12 – £3
Advance tickets £2.50
Student tickets – £3
Advance tickets – £2.50
Adult tickets include 10 free raffle tickets for a trip for two to India (Fabric of India Tour) kindly donated by Steppes Travel – more raffle tickets available for purchase on the day.
#ArtCouturePainswick #creativity #Painswick #bodyart
