Bedford Jersey Arts festival
This website had 1964 visitors in July viewing 3413 pages. Visits from Australia & Canada
Festival is now CLOSED. Thank you to those who performed, those who helped and those who attended. See our Review pages and Artist Contacts.
We are sad to report Mayor Frank Branston has died on 14th August 2009. A sad day for arts lovers in Bedford, and he was a good friend of the festival. Click HERE for a message from organiser Sandra Dudley.
The Bedford Jersey Arts Festival tells dramatic tales of WWII German Occupation of Jersey bringing young evacuees from Victoria College to Bedford School. Our Dear Channel Islanders a new play by Peter Tabb, directed by Philip Le Brocq presented by Victoria College students held audiences spellbound on 3 May at Bedford School as the moving tale - and antics - so brilliantly depicted life at Bedford School for Jersey lads in wartime! Many Festival events abound commemorating the courage of all those involved in wartime but WWII did not, as expected, bring an end to war! The 21st century is already making wartime history just as in its first decade, such is the suffering - and bravery - which in a modern age, all can experience 'as it happens' unlike WWII when the man in the street only 'knew what they were allowed to know'.
The overall Festival message of 'peace in our time' is brought to a climax on 2 and 6 June when Patrick Hall MP introduces two major events involving most respected speakers and artists.
On 2 June at 7.30 pm Bedford High School sponsors a FESTIVAL PEACE FILM FEST in the School Theatre. Festival special guest, Bruce Kent, world renowned peace activist will lead audience discussion following a showing of NEW WORLD ORDER by Bedford educated Ryan J-W Smith - an award winning 'powerfully thought provoking message of peace' gaining 5 star reviews as a live production at Edinburgh Fringe 2008.
Tickets are £5 from Central Box Office and on the door.
On 6 June, the 65th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings, Liberation and D-Day are commemorated, for the last time for current generations nationally - and at St Peter's Church, Bedford. The British Legion, Project 65 and a Bedford veteran of D-Day have expressed an interest in joining audiences for some of the three musical performances paying tribute in appropriate way not just to Bedford and Jersey servicemen but also the musicians of the Kent beaches who began building up morale with music following the devastation in 1946 of 'Hell's Corner' (Thanet and East Kent).
At 2 pm former Collegium Regale counter tenor, David Allsopp will present a Tribute to Alfred Deller, tickets £5. Deller was a Margate family man, founder of the Deller Consort, promoting international acceptance of the counter tenor voice with his work over many years, the work of Purcell often at its heart, his son Mark, also a counter tenor, President of the Stour Music Festival in Kent. At 4 pm Jersey's premiere chamber choir, Amity Singers brings a varied and lively programme of traditional song and jazz with audience invitation to share "We'll Gather Lilacs in the Spring Again", the much loved anthem of the war years. A Jersey Cream Tea is included in the ticket £6.50 with fresh baked scones by Tricia of St Peter's awaiting audiences! At 7.30 pm, Bedford's popular and acclaimed Concord Singers led by Mary Lock present "Sumer is icumen in" coinciding with Bedford summertime at its best! Tickets £10.
Sponsored by the St George's Day Charity and known to be the only 65th Anniversary of D-Day in the county - and the last before the centenary - the Festival welcomes all age audiences to this very special relaxed day of music making - and a Jersey Cream Tea!
Tickets from Central Box Office 01234 269519 and on the door.
Check out www.bedfordjerseyartsfestival.co.uk/programme for more events and information.
BEDFORD JERSEY ARTS FESTIVAL celebrates 70 years of friendship between Bedford and Jersey since during the German Occupation of Jersey in WWII, pupils and staff of Victoria College, Jersey were evacuated to Bedford School. Friendships, sports tours, and links between the Victoria College Foundation and Old Bedfordians and younger generation of both schools to this day. The Festival is entirely voluntarily organised and not for profit, several charities supported, almost every arts discipline represented and by amateur, professional and international performers and artists, all with a link to Jersey, Bedford or Bedfordshire.
art'icle magazine Bedford UK, redeveloped by editor Sandra Dudley for Bedford Arts Forum, celebrates its 5th birthday with the organisation of an international community arts festival in 2009. Visiting Jersey in 2006 she met Pat Robson, Director of Harbour Gallery, and Art in Frame Foundation. In March 2008, Pat and Sandra agreed to forge a community arts link and stage with Bedford Arts Forum a joint arts festival in Bedfordshire. The Festival programme is the result of 10 months close enthusiastic liaison between Bedfordshire and Jersey voluntary arts professionals and professional artists generously appearing for low charitable fees.
The Festival Programme will appear on the website in mid-March and in a printed programme shortly after, which will be printed by Autoglass and distributed free through libraries and other centres in Jersey, Bedfordshire and all surrounding counties. It will take the format of the very popular free art'icle magazine Bedford UK with features and profiles of artists and key people involved.
Statistics indicate that 10 months of close enthusiastic voluntary liaison between Jersey and Bedfordshire arts communities have produced 66 top level events in 61 days over 9 weeks in 18 venues; 55 Jersey and 100s of Bedfordshire artists.
Funding, private so far, and with the unexpected level of the recession, perhaps you will study the low cost Sponsorship page.
Publicity has been widespread for many months and is gaining momentum as Spring and Summer approach. Perhaps the internet and word of mouth are the greatest publicity agents! Google Bedford Jersey Arts Festival and check out the latest developments and features from many contributors. Watch exciting developments on the Festival website right up to the opening night and even during the 9 weeks when art'icle magazine writers will be reporting on events as they happen with images and even a DVD or two! Tell your friends: do you really need to book an expensive holiday away from the Great Ouse in Bedford with the rolling Victorian Embankment grasslands and Festival events?
The Future; the website will become a static showcase of Bedfordshire and Jersey arts which will tempt global visitors to attend the many Festivals and events to be enjoyed annually in both 'principalities'!
1 May – 5 July 2009 in Bedfordshire UK
Celebrating 70 years of friendship 1939—2009
“Victoria College, Jersey children evacuated to Bedford School during the Nazi Occupation of Jersey in WWII”
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"Festival Organiser Sandra Dudley is a finalist for the Pride of Bedford
Pat Olney Leisure and Culture Award and People's Choice Award . . . sponsored by Bedford Borough Council and Premier Newspapers VOTE NOW! Closing date 29 April! |
This website is an ongoing project started in late January 2009.