Leicester Art Festival prepares for Launch

Leicester gears up for brand new contemporary arts festival

 With the launch date of 1st November just a couple of weeks away, the first ever Arena Festival of Contemporary Arts has finalised a bold line up of artists and performers from across the UK. The two week festival, which launches at The Ale Wagon in Rutland Street, on Saturday 1st November and runs until 16th November, aims to showcase many prominent local and internationally known artists. The event also hopes to raise the city’s national profile in the art world.

Organised by DOT, a Leicester based artist-led group established in 2004, the festival has attracted funding from the Arts Council East Midlands, Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council and is the culmination of months of planning. It will take place at various locations across the city centre as well as at locations around the area including Wigston, Scraptoft and Oakham.

“With all the recent regeneration, including the fantastic new facilities such as The Curve, Leicester is a really exciting place to be at the moment,” explains festival co-ordinator Hamish Walker. “We have seen a great deal of growth in the arts in the city which DOT is proud to be part of and we hope that events such as Arena Festival will really help put Leicester on the cultural map.”

Planned events include exhibitions and installations by a range of artists, a magic show with a difference, music events and street projects. Many events are free and some include audience participation. “We are really excited by the variety of artists that we have managed to attract,” adds Hamish. “There is a diverse range of media and performances for people to come and see, many of which we hope will be interesting and thought provoking. For full details of the line up and when individual events are taking place visit www.arena-festival.co.uk

Tweet