The Ryde Arts Festival returns at the end of June with nine days of great events taking place in and around the town.
As usual, there’s a wonderful mix of art, music, theatre, talks, workshops on offer, as well as a chance to meet the Mennym family.
There are close to 40 individual events taking place, including week-long exhibitions, so there’s bound to be something for everyone.
Music
The Ryde Arts Festival begins and ends with music. On Friday 26th June you can enjoy a new piece of music by Gareth Balch. Featuring recorded memories of Ryde’s citizens and recorded sounds of the town, woven together by composed and improvised music and performed by an orchestra made up from Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra and friends.
On Saturday (27th) you can see the Portsmouth Baroque Choir perform at All Saints Church. They’ll be presenting two English gems of choral music: Elgar, Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands and Vaughan Williams, Serenade to Music with Karen Kingsley on the piano.
On the last day of the festival (Sunday 5th July) you can find out what it’s like to play a Harp.
There’s also a workshop with three harpists, giving the opportunity for all those aged seven and upwards to try their hand at this beautiful instrument. Later in the day there’s an opportunity to meet and play with other harpists in afternoon workshop with respected harp teacher Mike Parker.
Performance
If you love original theatre don’t miss WAKE. It’s a fast moving, quirky, thought provoking new short play by Origins Theatre, being premiered as part of Ryde Arts Festival.
It runs for two nights but space is limited, so make sure you book your tickets fast.
There’s a chance to hear some Poetry on the afternoon of 3rd July. Listen to poems by Shorewomen and the Stanza poets while you enjoy a cup of tea from Michelangelo on Union Street.
Exhibitions
On the opening weekend, why not head down the pier for the pop-up Art Fair. There’ll be artists, makers and musicians at the Wightlink Terminal.
Look out for brilliant ceramics, pastels, paper cuts, watercolour, collage, together with Ukuleles, Harp (probably not at the same time!) and more!
You’ll have all week to check out the latest exhibition at The Depozitory on Nelson Street. Belief is exploration of ideas around belief, featuring the work of nationally acclaimed and award-winning Ryde-based artists Jo Hummel-Newell, Chris Jenkins and Howard Hardiman
Ryde Library is hosting several events including the Memories of Ryde exhibition by Ryde Social Heritage Group featuring memories about Ryde’s lively and fascinating past.
And more!
As well as guided walks throughout the week, don’t miss the Magna Carta Mardi Gras on Saturday 27th June from 3pm. There’ll be music and entertainment on the seafront from midday onwards.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have a great time at the 2015 Ryde Arts Festival.
Our thanks to Ryde Arts Festival for sponsoring this feature. They and other organisations taking paid promotion enables you to continue reading OnTheWight for free.
Image: © With kind permission of Julian Winslow
Image: alesk under CC BY 2.0
