A FIVE-day art festival showcasing the work of 60 painters, pottery makers and sculptors is coming to Dorset at the end of the month.
Following the success of last year's sold out event, which saw 1,800 visitors attend across three days, Dorset Arts Festival is returning to Sculpture by the Lakes from Wednesday, June 30, with up to 60 artists exhibiting and demonstrating their work.
The outdoor event, set in the 26-acre park at Pallington, near Dorchester, will give visitors an insight into how artists create their work, with all the exhibitors demonstrating their skills and techniques live for guests to enjoy.
In a new addition for this year's event, there will also be sculptures by more than 20 other artists on display around the park.
Simon Gudgeon, sculptor and found of Sculpture by the Lakes and the Dorset Arts Festival, said: "Last year's Dorset Arts Festival was an incredibly joyous event which seemed to capture the imagination and mood of so many people as we emerged from the first lockdown.
"We were proud to be one of the only large-scale festivals to safely go ahead, as hundreds across the country were cancelled.
"This year, as we emerge from hopefully the last lockdown, we're offering something even more exciting and we expect that jubilant atmosphere to return tenfold."
As with the 2020 event, this year's Dorset Arts Festival will be run with Covid safety in mind, with ticket numbers capped each day and solid in advance, and exhibits spaced across the park to support social distancing.
Simon is excited to immerse visitors in the artists' creative experiences. He said: "Our aim is to make the whole festival about seeing artists and crafters demonstrate their skills and exhibit their work so you can see and understand the process.
"Artists' creative processes, their exquisite skills, imagination and talent are endlessly fascinating - including for me, as an artist myself. This event is all about celebrating beauty and creativity in a relaxed and informal way.
"People have that rare chance to experience an incredible range of art forms and styles and to take their time as they watch demonstrations and tour the park. It's a glorious way to spend time."
The five-day festival will run from June 30 until July 4. For more information and to book tickets, visit the Sculpture by the Lakes website.
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