The objectives of Aurora are to promote, maintain, improve and advance education about the arts within the community at large. We do this by the promotion, production, exhibition, performance and encouragement of the arts including but not exclusively - visual, performing and media arts. Thanks for visiting the Blog, we hope to keep you all up to date with what’s going on and what’s coming up! Please let us know of any events or news items that you have that may be of interest to other members.

Bowland Arts Festival 2009

From Bricks to Romans and Poetry Picnics…

The Forest of Bowland is known for its outstanding natural beauty and breathtaking landscapes, perhaps this is one reason why so many artists choose to make their homes here.

This year’s Bowland Arts Festival, which runs from the 1 May until  30 June, celebrates the vast wealth of creativity and abundance of talent in the area through exhibitions, art trails and walks, workshops, films and a host of other artistic events.

There will be something in this year’s festival to stimulate visitors of all ages.  From the chance to learn stone-carving at one of the many workshops to enjoying an evening of entertainment in a local village hall.

Make sure you don’t miss out on a visit to the local brickworks as part of the Brick Carving Workshop on 4 June, where anybody who has ever wondered how bricks are made will also have the chance to carve their very own. This is also a rare opportunity to tour the Claughton Brick Works which is linked by the last remaining aerial runway to the quarry on Claughton Moor.

The selection of  creative walks and trails ranges from Poetry Postcard Picnics to Walking in the footsteps of the Romans,  a guided walk that follows the Hornby track from Roeburndale to Slaidburn on Sunday 28th June.

Of course no arts festival would be complete without the opportunity to get inside an artist’s studio.  Higherford Mill Open Studios at Barrowford will be open to visitors on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June; this is a fabulous opportunity to see some of the excellent work being produced in the area.

And the really good news is that many of the events are free, whilst for others there is often only a small fee. You can find full details and booking information, essential for most of the events at www.bowlandarts.co.uk

The Bowland Arts Festival 2009 is co-ordinated by Sue Flowers, an environmental artist, based at Green Close Studios in Melling.  Sue’s energy and passion has been the driving force  behind the festival. 

She says:
“The Bowland Arts Festival is the start of something big – an opportunity for artists, communities and visitors to the area to come together to celebrate this special landscape, environment and nationally important wildlife habitat.”

Visit www.bowlandarts.co.uk for full details of all the events, printed event guides are available from Green Close Studios, tel 015242 21233, email info@greenclose.org