Newbury Weekly News

Sunny success for Arts & Crafts

One thousand turn out for first weekend of the 10-day festival at The Base, Greenham

- By TRISH LEE trish.lee@newburynew­s.co.uk @trishl_nwn

THE Base Greenham kicked off its inaugural Festival of Arts and Crafts at the weekend and it was a sunny success, with around 1,000 people visiting the visual arts centre.

The weekend was a true celebratio­n of arts, crafts, and artisanal food and drink from local makers and creators as a fantastic range of stalls surrounded the building outside; inside there were taster workshops for adults and children in the Lookout Studio.

Throughout the 10-day festival, local artists are also being celebrated, as their work is displayed in the venue’s Gallery where many visitors on Saturday and Sunday took the opportunit­y to support those artists by purchasing a piece of original art.

The Base’s Runway Gallery also became a huge chalkboard doodle wall, which visitors still have the opportunit­y to make their own mark on in the final weekend of the festival (Saturday to Monday).

Hampshire-based textile artist Harriet Riddell, from In Stitch You, came on the Sunday and brought her wagon to West Berkshire and gave visitors the chance

to join free-style stitching workshops on her six sewing machines.

Harriet will be back on Saturday for another day of sewing workshop fun – places are on a first come first serve basis.

Artist Richard Francis Bellin will also be leading Contempora­ry

Painting Taster Workshops on Saturday, which can be prebooked via The Base’s website.

Over the Easter weekend there will be some returning faces, but also a number of different stallholde­rs at The Base from Saturday to Monday, including woodwork, jewellery, handmade children’s clothing, ceramics and artists.

Entry to The Base Festival of Arts and Craft is free, as well as free parking on Greenham Business Park.

Visit www.thebasegre­enham. co.uk or follow The Base on Facebook and Instagram.

The Runway Gallery also became a huge chalkboard doodle wall, which visitors still have the opportunit­y to make their mark on

 ?? ?? Stallholde­r Liz Spencer of Happy Hedgehog Designs
Ref: 14-2022
Stallholde­r Liz Spencer of Happy Hedgehog Designs Ref: 14-2022
 ?? ?? Ellie Kerr-Smiley, artist
Ref: 14-2022
Ellie Kerr-Smiley, artist Ref: 14-2022
 ?? Picture Adam Hillier ?? Stalls outside The Base
Picture Adam Hillier Stalls outside The Base
 ?? ?? Susie Oates, Pots of Hope
Ref: 14-2022
Susie Oates, Pots of Hope Ref: 14-2022

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