God’s protection was on absolutley everything in the the gardens of Dalkeith Residential Care Home on 1 September 2024 including the weather (The met office daytime storm warning for Sunday afternoon manifested itself as a ten-minute shower and a bit of light drizzle).
And truly this was a Festival of the Stars – such a fabulous array of gifts and talents were brought and shared at this ‘banquet’ of the arts. Many were blessed by the creativity and kindness of others. Rupert Kaye, Chair.
Dogs with rosettes
Our circus entertainer on stilts juggled
Thai dancers danced
Bangladeshi watercolourist Abdul Mobel painted LIVE
The Pop Tarts roced and popped
4 open mic contestants took home well-deserved cash prizes including one of the carers
Ice creams
Portuguese food
Lush burgers
Sumptuous cakes
Graffiti/doodling wall
Face painting
Bibles
Prayer
Arts, crafts
Lego fire walk from the scouts
All rounded off by our headline act, Crispin’s band, who absolutley rocked it our of the park/care home garden.
Dynamic young actors taking faith into 10 primary schools in Gloucestershire.
Fresh, energetic, gifted disciples …..inspire children, the future of our church and faith.
Care Home Residents also invited, love seeing the children engage so enthusiastically with Jesus’ Parables.
Inside-Out
Mixed Media Show
25 May – 2 June 2024
The Hub Gallery, Christ Church. Malvern Road
Cheltenham GL50 2JH
‘Very proud of the wonderful pioneering glorious Christian Arts Festival,’
Tudor Griffiths, Area Dean of Cheltenham (retired), 1st Chair of Christian Arts Festival
‘The set from Prophecy Gospel Band from the Church of God of Prophecy, Gloucester, was energetic and their voices soared and harmonised. Every individual was filled with overflowing happiness that spilled into the audience, who after a shortwhile were up dancing!’ Juliia Lock, Glos Info
EAGA Gospel Choir were astonishing.
‘Fabulous evening of fun, song, dance and great fellowship.
What a glorious sound those lovely choirs made. They sounded like angels.’
Lesley Dodwell, Purple Shoots
How encouraging to have the winning Gospel song composition (Helen Maynard Watts) sung by EAGA and then to see so many from the workshop join EAGA for a rendition of ‘O Happy Day!
‘Such energy. Such talent. A privilege to be taught by choir director Jordan Anderson and huge generosity of spirit from the choir to welcome a collaborative performance. Unforgettable.’ besaltbaked, Instagram
Dai Woolridge, a renowned poet, who has written pieces for the Welsh Rugby Union. His spoken words were smattered with delightfully funny and warm stories of life.
The Holy Spirit was gushing though Donna Howells from the Warehouse Church, Newport, the radiant compere who passionately shared her love of the Gospels..
‘We’re facing challenging times in the Church and have to re-learn not to ‘despise the day of small things.’ This kind of imaginative festival is very much worth persisting with. It ‘tells all the truth but it tells it slant,’coming into the gospel from other directions. Really important in today’s sceptical culture.’
Rt Rev John Pritchard
‘I am writing to express my heartfelt thanks for all you organised, enabled and held regarding the recent Christian Arts Festival. I was delighted to be part of the Literature Day.’ Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester
‘Thank you SO, SO much for the treasure trove of speakers and events last Saturday and Sunday. All so very life enhancing.’ Attendee
10 September 2022
Here’s the video… see the smile on everyone’s faces!!
Supported by Arts Council Engand award through Gloucester Community Foundation
with partners: Art Shape, Cheltenham Education Partnership, Heart Heroes and LivingfromArt.com
EVENTS IN AN AGE OF PANDEMIC
We continue to provide events: performance, competitions and workshops with long term impact in all the arts – to build on what has been achieved in the past 6 years. Our current theme EDEN Restoring Paradise, will be followed by GOSPEL 2023. We strive to excite new people and young people, connecting them to sports clubs, activities & small groups, inspiring a love of the Gospels and showcasing courageous ways of worship e.g. gospel song writing, visual arts and performance etc.
The pandemic has enabled us to reach online audiences, resulting in wide coverage national and international, flexibility and longevity as witnessed through our Living Room Fest 2020, Inspires Sessions and Octopus creative workshops in 2021. We intend to continue using technological advances to extend our reach.
An online celebration of music and the arts with streams for grown ups and under 12s with 30 contributors including Singer-Songwriters, Gospel Choirs, Comedians, Visual Artists, Science Magician and Theatre Companies. There were over 2,300 views and we raised £3,000 through a Crowdfunder page for our contributors facing uncertain futures with many cancelled tours, performances and exhibitions
Festival Feast and the Future
23 April – 12 May 2019
Feast your eyes on the many Encounters!!
The joy of life in all its fullness through
Music, Art, Comedy, Drama, Dance and Film
84 + EVENTS in 44 VENUES
Thank you to everyone who supported us with sponsorship, hosting events, performing, painting, leading workshops, stewarding, refreshments, driving, brochure distribution, donations, buying tickets, leaving comments and telling friends and neighbours about the Festival.
So we can provide even better festivals in the future, do send us feedback of your encounters during the festival – nikki@christianartsfestival.org
Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies’ College
‘Wow! What an evening! Thank you so much for inviting me along to such a fabulous concert. I really enjoyed the performance. Congratulations on a hugely successful event! ‘ Alex Chalk MP
Elim Sound with Sam Blake
Extremely popular up-beat Worship Concert thrilling for all attendees – witnessing prophetic art also and young people got the opportunity to take up a paint brush and make their own mark.
Sermon Slam 2019
The Sermon Slam was won by Paul Chesworth in 2019 – the calibre of entries gets better every year since it’s inauguration in 2016 – an event not to be missed in the future. BBC Presenter Richard Atkins is still hoping to win!
No Abiding City
Bishop Rachel welcomed Bishop Michael Lewis from Jerusalem and designate for the Middle East for his thought-provoking event ‘No Abiding City.’
.
Festival of Stars 2018
The LIVE open air Music and Comedy Festival invited the whole community to take part with an Open the Mic Competition, #StarFest of the Day, iSingPOP with Christ Church School, Tom Elliott Comedian and Magician, Out of the Ashes, Gloucester Gospel Choir, The Hawthorns and a Graffiti Wall workshop for young people. The headline act The Strays invited children and young people at the end of their set to dance with them on stage under the stars. For some, making memories of their 1st Festival when they performed on stage may well inspire them to perform in the future! Little residents from neighbouring houses were seen peeking through their curtains to take a look itching to take part !