Wandsworth Arts Festival launches next week (From Sutton Guardian)

Wandsworth Arts Festival launches next week

2:02pm Thursday 3rd May 2012 in Freetime By Alexandra Rucki

Wandsworth Arts Festival launches next week, with organisers encouraging everyone to get involved.

The council run festival features low key art to highbrow projects, while members of the public are invited to share their own artistic talents.

Starting on Friday, May 11, and runs until May 27, concluding with outdoor event The Shimmy featuring acts, stalls and exhibitions between Putney Bridge and Wandsworth Park.

Residents who want to take things a step further can submit their own work or participate in a range of interactive events.

Budding writers can enter their work into two creative writing events with a difference.

Are You Sitting Comfortably? is seeking writers to produce stories for a storytelling cabaret extravaganza.

Stories must reflect the theme of secrets, with each writer getting a free homemade book of their story and a chance to be published by Ether Books.

Email entries to areyousittingcomfortably@live.com before May 13, putting secrets in the subject line.

Writing group Chalk the Sun are basing their competition on the theme Games, with a tight word limit of 200 words.

The 20 best writers will be selected to read their story in front of a judge and audience on May 25.

To enter email creativewriting@chalkthesun.co.uk by May 12.

Artist Mem Morrison is on the lookout for about 40 performers to take part in his sound installation project, made up of soundbites of underwater recordings.

Participants can create their own interpretation of a soundbite using their own voice for the artwork, which has been specially designed for the trees beside the River Thames in Wandsworth Park.

Contact hannahmillest@artsadmin.co.uk if you are interested in taking part.

On May 20 Step into Dance and The Brick Box will be running dance workshops and performances inside Tooting Market, in Tooting High Street.

Everything from Hip Hop to Bollywood will be covered in the free classes, running from 3pm to 5pm in the market.

Wandsworth Arts Festival, May 11-27, various venues, visit wandsworth.gov.uk/artsfestival for a full programme of events, email arts@wandsworth.gov.uk or call 020 8871 9711