Masham Arts Festival

Book early. Tickets go on sale on 12th September. Workshops are very popular and we expect them to sell out quickly. Download the Festival Programme here.

Prices are per person. The first price shown is for adults and the second for children (up to 18), senior citizens and those receiving benefits. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

Friday 23rd October

6.00 – 7.00 pm – St. Mary’s Church – FREE
ART PREVIEW EVENING
Exhibition of visual art in the beautiful surroundings of St. Mary’s Church, including nearly 200 paintings, prints, ceramics and textiles.

Our guest artist this year is Simon Palmer who’ll also be showing a selection of his work at Swinton Park Hotel

7.30 St. Mary’s Church - £10 - suitable age: 12+
DAVID NOBBS, author of Reginald Perrin
David will speak about his life as a humourist, covering his career starting with the iconic That Was The Week That Was in 1963, via 17 novels to this year's updated remake of Reggie Perrin.

Saturday 24th October

10 – 12.00 am – International Art House - £15
COOKERY WORKSHOP
Italian cook, Marina Del Francia, invites you to a cooking demonstration of traditional, seasonal Tuscan food, with tasting and Italian wines to compliment the food.

2.00 & 3.30 pm from the Market Cross - £5/£3 - suitable age: 12+
SECRET PLACES OF MASHAM TOUR
A look into little known and hard to find places which give clues to the history and character of Masham. Fascinating and surprising. Limited places, booking essential

2.00 – 4.00 pm - Town Hall - £7/£5 - suitable age: 7+
WORKSHOP: BUTTON JEWELLERY
Make your own unique brooches, necklaces and bracelets from recycled buttons. Go home with your own one-off piece of quirky & contemporary jewellery. Materials provided or bring your own treasured buttons.

8.00 - 10.00 pm – Town Hall - £10 – suitable: £12+
KATHRYN WILLIAMS
Singer, songwriter and Mercury Music Prize nominee, Kathryn Williams and her band present an evening of moving and soulful songs. One of England’s finest songwriters, the Observer said of her last recording: “Beautiful and intense – her best album yet”.

Sunday 25th October

10 – 12.00 am – International Art House – £15 – 16+
2 – 4.00 pm – International Art House - £15 – 16+
WATERCOLOUR WORKSHOP with Annette Raff
Two workshops introducing this magical and popular medium by a leading Australian artist. Suitable for complete beginners.

10 – 12.00 am – Sports Pavilion - £5/£3 - suitable age: all
2.00 – 4.00 pm – Sports Pavilion - £5/£3 - suitable age: all
WORKSHOP: INSTRUMENTS FROM VEGETABLES
Come and find out how to make instruments and create music using what you can buy from the greengrocer or grow in the garden! Inspired by the Vegetable Orchestra of Vienna!

6.00 – 8.00 pm - St. Mary’s Church - £3 – suitable: all
HOME GROWN CONCERT
Always a popular and enjoyable evening – a chance to see Masham’s local talent show off their skills and a chance to see (and hear) some of the instruments made today.

8.30 – 10.30 pm International Art House - £12
ITALIAN NIGHT
An evening of Italian, food, wine and music meeting visiting Italian
sculptor and painter Biffe Fantoni. Biffe's work will be exhibited at Morton House during the festival.

Monday 26th October

10.00 – 12.00 am – Town Hall - £3 (child) – suitable: 4 - 8
WORKSHOP: POP-UP CARDS
Fun, effective, simple and colourful pop-up cards for unique greetings.

Several sessions from 2.00 – 4.00 pm - Town Hall - £3 – suitable: 4 - 8
STORYTELLING WITH SHONALEIGH CUMBERS
Come and enjoy tales of magic, mystery and adventure

2.00 – 4.00 – Town Hall - £4 – Suitable 12+
THE ART OF PAULA MODERSOHN-BECKER - AVERIL KING
An illustrated introduction to the life and work of the early expressionist Paula Modersohn-Becker who painted portraits, landscapes, still lives and mothers with their children. Presented by a well respected local author.

7.30 – 9.30 pm – The Old Mill, Millgate - £7 – suitable for adults
MASHAMANORY AT THE OLD MILL
Relax with a glass of mulled wine at Masham eighteenth century Old Mill, enjoying stories told by Shonaleigh Cumbers.

Tuesday 27th October

10.00 – 11.30 am – Town Hall - £5/£3 – suitable for all
WORKSHOP: CAKE DECORATING
Design and ice your own miniature fruit cake to take home. Cakes provided.

2.00 – 4.00 pm – Town Hall - £5/£3 – suitable: 8 – 13
WORKSHOP: MAKE A CD CLOCK
Bring along your old unwanted CDs and revamp them into funky and decorative working wall clocks. CDs available on the day.

6.00 – 8.00 pm – Town Hall - £5/£3 – suitable: all
MASHAM REMEMBERED
Film and photographs of the past in Masham and district from several sources including the memories of old Mashamites.

8.30 – 10.30pm – International Art House - £12
AUSTRALIAN NIGHT
Come along for an evening of Australian food and wine and meet Annette Raff, award winning Australian watercolour artist. Annette will be in residence at Morton House for the duration of the festival.

Wednesday 28th October

10.00 – 12.00 am – Sports Pavilion - £8/£5 – suitable for all
2.00 – 4.00 pm – Sports Pavilion - £8/£5 – suitable for all
Under 12s must be accompanied
WORKSHOP: WILLOW LANTERNS
A chance to weave willow into magical lanterns great and small. There will be a parade after dark in the Market Square of the resulting creations.

7.00 – 9.00 pm – Town Hall - £3 – suitable: all
MASHAM MUSIC COMPETITION
Young musicians and bands from Masham and the surrounding area compete. The winners will support Friday’s concert appearance by The Birdman Rallies.

7.00 – 9.00 pm – Sports Pavilion - £3 – suitable: 12+
MASHAMMIND QUIZ
Teams drawn from Masham’s many societies and groups in a competition of raw brain power.

Thursday 29th October

7.00 – 9.30 pm – Sports Association – £5 – suitable: all
LANDERMASON/ACCOUSTIC NIGHT
Two excellent musicians fom Northumberland combine traditional and contemporary folk with jazz and other styles in beautiful and striking arrangements.

10.00 – 12.00 am - Town Hall - £3 – suitable: family
WORKSHOP: MAKE A MOBILE
Recycle your old colourful plastic carrier bags into your own designer fabric, then use it to create a vibrant mobile that catches the air and light.

2 – 4.00 pm – International Art House - £15 – 16+
STILL LIFE WORKSHOP with Annette Raff
A practical watercolour workshop introducing one of the great art genres with a leading Australian artist. Suitable for complete beginners.

Friday 30th October

10.00 – 12.00 pm – Town Hall - £5/£3 – suitable: 12+
WORKSHOP: ART FOR THE TERRIFIED
Ever wanted to create your own masterpieces but don’t know where or how to start? Conquer the fear and unleash your inner artist – learn about a number of techniques and materials with the help of two professional local artists.

2.00 – 4.00 pm – Town Hall - £5/£3 – suitable: 12+
WORKSHOP: PRINT MAKING
A practical workshop offering a chance to learn some of the amazing techniques available to printmakers from one of England’s leading artists – Hester Cox.7.00 – 9.30 pm – Town Hall - £5 – suitable: 12+

THE BIRDMAN RALLIES
The Birdman Rallies were born June 2008 in Harrogate. They play intricately melodic songs with visceral energy and unusual amounts of cheer. They are especially noted for their use of unusual instrumentation: glockenspiels, three-part harmonies, trumpet, two drummers and synthesiser. They have recently been played to acclaim on Radio 1, Radio 2 and BBC 6 music.

Saturday 31st October

10.00 – 12.00 am – Sports Pavilion - £7 – suitable: 18+
WORKSHOP: COOKING WITH BEER
If you’ve ever wondered what else to do with Masham’s most famous product here’s a chance to find out.

10.00 – 4.00 pm - – The Old Mill - £35– suitable: 12+
WORKSHOP: CHICKEN WIRE SCULPTURES
Susan Nichols makes anything from robins to donkeys. The advantage of working with chicken wire is it’s almost impossible to go wrong – you can “unpick” your mistakes so come and try making fantasy birds. Price includes materials and one for you to take home. Please bring packed lunch.

12.00 – 2.00 pm – Sports Pavilion – free – suitable: adult
POEMS AND A PINT
Hosted by Hazel Cameron – one of the poets chosen by the National library of Scotland for National Poetry Day 2008. Hear some lovely words, read some of your own and partake of a pint.

2.00 – 4.00 pm – Sports Pavilion - £5 – suitable: 18+
BEER TASTING COMPETITION
Can you find the foreigner hidden amongst a selection of Yorkshire ales? How good is your palette?

7.00pm - Black Sheep Brewery - £22
(includes Latin American-themed buffet) suitable: 12+
PEACE ARTISTES
They’re back! By popular demand! Bradford’s amazing street band, comprised of a multitude of musicians – percussion, saxes, and brass rocking with rhythm and pulsating with passion. The Peace Artists are famous for “getting the party partying” – come along and enjoy the band proclaimed “wonderful” by Desmond Tutu.

Look out for these FREE events taking place every day

ART EXHIBITION
10 am – 4 pm (except Sunday morning) in St. Mary’s Church, featuring around 30 of the best artists from across the North who have been specially selected for this show. Look out for art and craft demonstrations each day. This year’s exhibition also features a children’s art competition.

ILTON FARM, a photographic documentary
10 am - 4 pm at Manor Farm, Ilton - Gary Keat's ongoing photographic project recording the daily life of a hill farm

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION – theme photography meets art
10 am – 4 pm in Masham Community Office with work by the talented members of Masham Photographic Society with a public vote for the favourite images

THE EEL
10 am – 4 pm meet Masham’s marvellous mechanical monster in the Market Place

FESTIVAL POSTCARD TRAIL
Stories art and poetry on tables, railings, trees and other unexpected places around Masham

INTERNATIONAL ART HOUSE – MORTON HOUSE, PARK STREET
Award winning Australian artist Annette Raff is in residence this week showing her watercolour paintings alongside Italian oil painter Biffe. Look out for many more cookery and art events in the house throughout the festival.

SWINTON PARK OLD MASTERS EXHIBITION
An usual opportunity to see marvellous works by WiIiam Redmore Bigg RA, Alfred Sisley, George Cuitt, Sen, Jan Josefsz. Van Goyen, Paulus Potter, Adam Van Breen, David Teniers The Younger, and George Romney

Masham Arts Festival 2009
Booking and information: 01765 680200