Eastlife January 2019

Arts News
for January
Holt Festival Announces 2019 Dates
The award-winning Holt Festival will be returning to the
North Norfolk town on from 21-27 July 2019, under the
new permanent artistic directorship of Anwen Hurt.
Anwen promises to retain all the popular mix of styles
that have made the festival such a hit for the past 10
years while introducing new strands that she is sure will
prove popular with locals and visitors alike.
Previous festivals have seen the likes of Michael Palin,
Jasper Carrott, Melvyn Bragg, The Stranglers, Steve
Harley & Cockney Rebel, Suzy Quatro, ,Michael Buerke,
Dr John Cooper Clarke, Joanna Trollope, Kate Adie and
Julie Christie.
The first highlights will be announced in late February
with the full programme going on sale at the end
of April and there’s sure to be another dazzling
international array of music, drama, visual art, film,
literature, dance, comedy, kids shows and more.
There’s also the Holt Festival – Sir John Hurt Art Prize,
named in honour of the much missed screen legend
(and Anwen’s husband) who was such a great supporter
of the Festival. The Prize attracts entries from all over
the country with the shortlisted entries being exhibited
throughout the Festival week and a cheque for £1,700
and a showing at Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts for the
winner. Full details at www.holtfestival.org
‘Art, obsession and maturity’ at
The Crypt Gallery, Norwich
According to art critics, it’s the era of mature, women
artists and now, a new exhibition ‘Obsession, Art and
Maturity’ at The Crypt Gallery at the Norwich School, will
celebrate this trend for the rise of older women artists
by showcasing the work of three leading, Norwich-based
artists from 21 March to 5 April.
Photographer Julia Cameron, painter Mary Mellor and
sculptor Vanessa Pooley all have decades of experience,
a notable back catalogue of work – and a lifelong creative
obsession that has led them to create their most inspired
work later in life.
A new phenomenon in the art world now sees critics
overlook the young and up-and-coming in favour of
veteran creatives – and particularly more mature women
artists. All three artists in the Norwich exhibition are
united by a lifelong creative obsession with a theme.
Photographer Julia Cameron, 64, repeatedly visits the
same sparse landscapes around the salt marshes and the
South Beach of Great Yarmouth, while painter Mary Mellor,
68, has returned to the theme of composition in paintings
over many decades producing tens of works that revisit
this. Sculptor Vanessa Pooley, 60, has been obsessed with
the female figure since she began working as an artist 40
years ago. www.cryptgallery.space
The Affordable Art Show at
The Corn Hall, Diss
The Corn Hall will be exhibiting work from more than 20
local artists as part of the Affordable Art Show, until 12
January.
Visitors can view and buy sdiverse and affordable
artworks, ranging from prints and paintings to ceramics
and multi-media pieces. All art will be available to
purchase for a maximum price of £250, with many
available for less. The gallery spaces are open Monday –
Saturday, 10am-4pm. All exhibitions are free entry.
www.thecornhall.co.uk
Photographer Julia Cameron
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