The Norfolk and Norwich festival : Arts and Innovation

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Craeativity and Innovation make a great combination and add to that a mix of diveristy, a dash of entertainment and you got one of the most interesting festivals that is held every year to showcase the latest arts. A festival that started  more than 200 years ago as a fund raising event for the Norfolk & Norwich hospital has grown to become a major festival in England that is held in the month of May. Every year the flagship organization of arts has interesting and innovative arts for the viewers. The Norfolk & Norwich festival also works in collaboration with other art organizations and groups that are local as well international to create a diverse range of works that exceeds the expectations of audiences, communities and participants. The organization is financially supported by Arts Council England, Norfolk County Council, Norwich City Council along with art lovers who sponsor the event. In April 2012, the Norfolk & Norwich festival was bestowed with the Arts Council England National Portfolio Organization rank. The organization is also enlisted as Bridge Organization out of 14 and is authorized to create cultural and art-related opportunities for the children and the youth of East England.

What is the history of Norfolk, Norwich Festival?

Norfolk & Norwich Festival started in 1772 when for the first time such a program was organized for fund raising to aid the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital at the Norwich Cathedral. It is considered as the oldest arts festival in UK that has survived changing times and continued with its tadition of holding the event every year. Since 1788, the festival was conducted annually that lasted for four days. While the morning events were held at St. Peter Mancroft Church, the evening programs were organized at St. Andrew’s Hall. During the initial years the festival was more of a Grand Music concert and there wasnot much shown in the arts. The change came when in 1824, Norfolk & Norwich Triennial came into existence during which big musical concerts were held annually at the St. Andrew’s Hall. This Triennial lasted for around one hundred years. Since 1988, the event has undergone massive change and has now been able to establish itself as one of the biggest multiart form festivals of UK.

What are the features of the Norfolk & Norwich festival in 2012?

• This year the festival is to be held from 11 to 26 May 2012
• The event will be held at Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios in East England which is also the biggest and the most renowned open studios of UK
• The two highly innovative artforms include : How Like An Angel and Walking

What is ?How like an angel??

For the first time the exhilarating Circa’s circus and the singing of I Fagiolini have united and come up with an exquisite performance called the "How like an angel". This program will be dedicated to the grandeur and beauty of the four eminent cathedrals in England. The concert is designed to showcase the sacred spaces of these cathedrals through lively performances from the singers. The talented artists of Circa will be performing enthralling acrobatics against the soaring sound of music with stunning architecture as the backdrop. Circa, is an Australian acrobatic and circus company  which is known all over the world over for presenting a new dimension to the tradition of circus and presents the skills with skilful use of projection, light and sound. For the first time, especially for the Norfolk & Norwich festival, Circa Director, Yaron Lifschitz and the director of UK vocal ensemble I Fagiolini, Robert Hollingworth are coming together to perform such an innovative performance.

What is the event "Walking?"at Norfolk & Norwich festival?

Another landmark inspirational feature of this year’s Norfolk & Norwich festival is the collaboration between renowned director and artist, Robert Wilson and Dutch visual artist Theun Mosk and theatre maker, Boukje Schweigman. Wilson has combined various installations and sculpture synchronizing them with the coastal beauty of north Norfolk in such a way  that the artistic display and the natural landscape merge to redefine a special relationship. The whole event will cover a stunning stretch of three miles running parallel with the coastline and will be supplemented by sound and visual installations that are expected to create contrast against the backdrop of sculpture and landscape. The variety of environments, and land forms, hill and valley along with woodland and juxtaposing dunes in this area led to its selection for this innovative concept. The audiences will be expected to walk very slowly guided by the guides so that they could experience the contrast of visual and audio medium. As the walkers will move forward they will slowly become a part of the whole event and will get transformed into a performer with nature as their stage. Walking is expected to be one of the most thrilling events of the Norfolk & Norwich festival and with slow pace the participant is expected to cover the complete area in around four hours.

 

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