Lyme Regis ArtsFest hails 10th successful year (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)
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Lyme Regis ArtsFest hails 10th successful year
12:30pm Monday 4th February 2013 in News By Adrianne Maslen
Carolyn King at 'Meet the Artist' during ArtsFest 2012
LYME Regis ArtsFest concluded its 10th successful year at its annual general meeting.
Retiring chairman Sally Holman presided over the meeting and reflected on the last decade.
She was pleased with how the annual festival has evolved and grown, attracting new artists and events each year.
Healthy visitor numbers, well-attended workshops and events, and good sales for artists at the 2012 ArtsFest reinforce the positive message that the Lyme Regis arts scene is alive and kicking, she said.
In her financial report, treasurer Wendy Davies thanked Lyme's local businesses for welcoming artists to display their work as part of the Art Trail and for sponsoring a 'red spot' in the ArtsFest brochure.
She thanked West Dorset District Council and Lyme Regis Town Council for continued financial support.
The biggest thanks of the evening went to Sally Holman for her years at the helm of ArtsFest as leadership now passes to Christine Allison and Karol Kulik, supported by the newly elected steering group.
Sally will continue to work on ArtsFest events and workshops with co-ordinator Anthea Simmons.
ArtsFest is continuing to build partnerships within the community through the re:collection project with Lyme Regis Museum.
Launched last autumn with a grant from Arts Council England, the re:collection initiative will culminate at this year's ArtsFest (September 21 to 29).
In the run-up, a series of exhibitions will be held in the museum's Rotunda Gallery, with photographer Maisie Hill's 'Both Object and Observer' currently running until March 27.
The agm was followed by a presentation and discussion led by illustrator Keith Robinson about Vincent Van Gogh.
Keith and ArtsFest are keen to continue these informal discussions, now called 'Talking Pictures', on a monthly basis to be held in a local venue.
As sessions will be open to all, please email keith@keith-robinson.com to register your interest.
Several artists new to ArtsFest attended the meeting and the group is eager to welcome creative people from all disciplines.
An Artists' Handbook, providing full information about getting involved, is available from www.lymeregisartsfest.com, and the next ArtsFest artists' meeting will be at 7pm in the Guildhall on Tuesday, March 5.
