Still time to register for this year's Festival of Chichester

Entries for the 2016 Festival of Chichester are coming in thick and fast.
Barry SmithBarry Smith
Barry Smith

Festival co-ordinator Barry Smith said: “The festival is shaping up to be more exciting than ever. The special thing about our festival is the wonderfully-eclectic mix of events, with top international artists performing alongside local groups and organisations, like Chichester Singers, Chichester Symphony Orchestra and Chichester City Band.

“It looks as if the 2016 festival will be even bigger and better than last year. But there’s still time for people to make an entry. Just email [email protected] and we’ll send you an entry form and full information pack. Deadline for entries is January 31.”

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Barry is delighted that Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will be returning to perform in Chichester Cathedral.

“It’s an indication of how far we’ve come that the very best performers want to be part of our festival.

“The festival will be opened with a concert by the Chichester Singers in the cathedral on June 18. A brilliant set of jazz gigs is lined up, with pianist Tim Richards bringing his Hextet hot from Ronnie Scott’s and the top jazz festivals.

“For book lovers, there will be visits from famous authors, including a special event on the poetry of George Orwell. Several Shakespeare-themed events are in the pipeline in the 400th-anniversary year of his death. Costa Award winner Don Paterson, one of our greatest living poets, will headline at the Poetry & Jazz Café.”

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Plans are afoot to screen a mini-season of films in collaboration with New Park Cinema.

Barry added: “A feature of this year’s festival will be an open studios art trail where locally-based artists will be at home to visitors to show and discuss their work. Other super exhibitions are planned for the Pallant and Oxmarket galleries and for Chichester library.

“And we mustn’t forget all the local fairs and fetes, including a major art and crafts fair at West Dean. Open air theatre will also feature at West Dean and the Weald and Downland museum. There’s a veritable feast of entertainment in store at the Festival of Chichester this summer.”

The first Festival of Chichester was held in 2013, the year after the collapse of the old Chichester Festivities.

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