Archive for April, 2010
A Cotswold Scene
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art, Crafts on April 27, 2010
Photograph the Cotswolds – Your chance to see your work exhibited at O3 gallery, Oxford Castle and win some great prizes.
This month sees the launch of a exciting new photography competition celebrating the beauty of the Cotswolds and giving you the chance to have your image showcased in a six week high profile exhibition at O3 gallery, Oxford Castle.
The competition is the idea of local landscape photographer Sarah Howard, supported by the Cotswolds Conservation Board and Blueprint Imaging of Witney. Sarah has lived in the Cotswolds for much of her life and has a particular affinity with the region. She is especially keen to promote its photographic potential; “Photography has seen a surge in popularity recently and with spring now here there’s no better time to get out there with your camera, make use of its wonderful creative potential, and engage with our lovely surroundings”.
Officially designated as the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the country, the Cotswolds is known for being one of the most quintessentially English and unspoiled regions of the UK. With its gentle hillsides, river valleys and delightful honey coloured villages there is plenty to offer the photographer.
The overall winner will take away a 2 night stay (including dinner on one evening) at the historical White Hart Royal Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh, plus a one day one to one photography workshop in the Cotswolds with Sarah. There are plenty of other fantastic prizes to be won too, including a fabulous Ricoh R10 camera for the overall youth winner, a half day Photoshop tuition with digital imaging expert Claire Reika Wright, a Manfrotto 190 XDB tripod and Lowepro mini trekker, courtesy of Morris Photographic plus a one years subscription to Outdoor Photography magazine and over £300 worth of Image Seen gift vouchers. There will also be an opportunity to win a commission for local Cotswolds publication The Four Shires in 2011.
The competition is open until 15th October & entries will be judged at the end of October.
Full details can be found at www.imageseen.co.uk/cotswolds-photography-competition
Be enchanted…
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events, Tours on April 13, 2010
Enter an enchanted world of dance with veils and candle dances with The Haziz Egyptian Belly Dancers at Gloucester Guildhall & The Cotswold Playhouse. Egyptian belly-dancing features, but also displays of classical and traditional styles from the Middle-East, including folk dances from Tunisia and Upper Egypt, Persian dance, a cheeky Melaya dance from Alexandria, Khaleegy from the Arabian Gulf, an amazing group veil dance, a mesmerising group candle dance, Isis wings, Burlesque, Whirling meditative, Algerian Scarf dance, Transylvanian Gipsy dance, Cuban style, plus many other fabulous group and solo dances. From classical to cabaret, the show is breathtakingly choreographed.
The show will be performed at Gloucester Guildhall on Saturday 24th April and then for 2 nights at The Cotswold Playhouse, Stroud on Friday 25th & 26th June 2010.
Cities at the Red Rag Gallery
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art on April 12, 2010
The splendour, personality and romance of cities is the exciting subject of the forthcoming spring exhibition at the Red Rag Gallery in Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire from 25th April – 9th May 2010.
Cities reflect the variety and vibrancy of different cultures and the exhibition, Cities, includes the work of several contemporary British artists for whom the city fascinates and stimulates. The exhibition offers distinctive and diverse interpretations of the atmosphere and life of some of Europe’s major cities –including London, Paris, Florence, Rome and Venice. The everyday rhythms, 
energy, colour and movement of city life are explored in a variety of media against a backdrop of lively buildings and urban scenes in all the seasonal variation of atmosphere and light.
See www.redraggallery.co.uk for full details.
Midsummer Proms in the Cotswolds
Posted by Culture Vulture in Classical Music, Events, Live Music on April 8, 2010
Naunton Midsummer Proms
The beautiful village of Naunton, set in the heart of the Cotswolds, will again be hosting a truly memorable summer’s evening. On 19th June Naunton’s recreation ground will be transformed into a ‘last night of the proms’ style concert featuring the London Gala Chamber Orchestra conducted by James Morgan and including the renowned soprano Juliette Pochin. The evening will finish with a firework finale. All proceeds will go towards the Light Dragoons Charitable Trust and the Naunton Village Hall.
A stage will be set up in the centre of the ground where Juliette and the orchestra will perform various pieces such as Handel’s ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba;’ Bizet’s ‘March of the Toreadors’ from Carmen and the more familiar ‘I could have danced all night’ from My Fair Lady. More traditional proms music, when the audience can join, will also be performed including Rule Britannia, Jerusalem and, of course, Land of Hope and Glory.
“I am really looking forward to this event,” said conductor James Morgan. For me this illustrates what country living is all about. Performing in a setting such as this is a big highlight for me and is definitely different to my usual itinerary!” It is amazing to think that the village residents pull together in a huge effort to create this fabulous evening.”
The performance will start at 8pm but gates will open at 6.30 when those attending are welcome to arrive with picnics and singing voices at the ready. Tickets cost £20 (in advance) for adults and £5 for children. They do get sold very quickly and can be bought by calling 07949 246876 or 01451 850787.