International flavour to art trail event

MORE than 150 artists from across the UK and abroad are set to take part in an art trail, a new addition to New Mills Festival.

The festival, held in New Mills from September 8 to 24, celebrates creative talent from across Stockport and beyond.

The launch event on September 8 will feature a performance and film by artist Chris Dobrowolski, called All Roads Lead to Rome.

Highlights of the art trail will include work by John Hyatt, renowned artist, musician, punk professor and one third of the 1980s post-punk band, The Three Johns.

Visitors will be able to take part, too, contributing to a drawing installation that will be inspired by the heritage of New Mills and led by Macclesfield-based artist Simon Woolham.

The Pinhole Studio, a narrowboat kitted out with photography equipment, will host workshops so that people can have a go at creating their own photogram.

Drink and Draw will also be inviting festival-goers to sketch the action in a new storyline created by artist Andrea Joseph.

The Art Trail will conclude with a ‘big weekend,’ timed to coincide with the popular lantern procession finale, which attracts an audience of more than 10,000 on the final weekend of the festival.

During the weekend, artists and venues across New Mills will open their doors to host pop-up exhibitions, open studios, workshops and demonstrations and arts and crafts markets.

For more information and tickets to the launch event, visit www.newmillsfestival.co.uk. Follow the art trail’s progress on Twitter @ nmfestivalarts and Facebook at www.facebook. com/NewMillsArts.