Music and literature among June highlights
Poetry, literature, music and art - there’s plenty of culture across Horsham District during June.
The Horsham District Year of Culture 2019 continues apace as we reach halfway through the year. There are some fantastic music and literary events this month for adults and children alike, and the opportunity to get painting!
On 14 June there will be a talk by Sussex born historian Kevin Newman on the Sussex Laureate Hillaire Belloc.
Hilaire Belloc is the frontrunner for the accolade of being the District’s most famous literary figure of recent times. Having spent his boyhood in Slindon, he moved to Shipley where he remained for the rest of his life. Belloc was a poet, historian, satirist, soldier, MP and political activist.
The author of more than 150 books, he’s best known now, perhaps, for his humorous ‘Cautionary Tales for Children’ – comic poems that have had a great influence on children’s writers ever since. Find out about the life and works of this towering literary and political figure at the Horsham Writers Circle talk and in their library displays.
The speaker is the wellknown Sussex-born historian, author and broadcaster Kevin Newman.
His talk, including performances from some of the pupils of the school, will take place at The Towers School in Upper Beeding, BN44 3TF on Friday 14 June. The talk includes a Belloc-themed light meal, with Sussex cheese, bread, vegetables and meat. Refreshments, including Sussex beer and wine, will also be available. To book your tickets please contact writerscirclebookings@ gmail.com.
CELLOPHANE FLOWERS TRIO After two sellout shows at the Brighton Fringe Festival and Chichester Festival last year, the Cellophane Flowers Trio are embarking on a minitour of Sussex. Guitarist/ singer Alex Eberhard and vocalists Lucy Pickering and Rachel Myer will take you on a fabulous journey through the timeless Lennon/McCartney catalogue.
From ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ to ‘Across The Universe’, and from ‘Nowhere Man’ to ‘Blackbird’, the trio interpret the Beatles’ work in a new and refreshing way focusing on the lush vocal harmonies. You’ll be singing along with them by the end of the night! Catch them at the Steyning Centre on Friday 14 June, all the booking details can be found on www.hdculture2019.co.uk
CREATIVE ART INSPIRED BY PENN, PATTERNS AND PEACE If you would like to really get creative, join Kilcash based artist, Mia Carney at the wonderfully historic Blue Idol at Coolham on Saturday 15 June. You will be drawing and painting in the medium of your choice: charcoal, pencil, acrylic and watercolour.
You will be inspired by the beautiful setting of this Quaker meeting house and place of worship of William Penn, best known for founding the state of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia – the city of brotherly love. Basic materials and a canvas will be provided but please use your own media if you would prefer.
STEYNING BOOK LOVERS WEEK A fantastic week-long celebration of all things bookish for adults and children. This week includes author suppers, children’s books weekend, homemade poetry evening, creative writing workshops and so much more. The week runs from 15 June to 22 June, we would recommend checking out all the events happening during the week on the website so you don’t miss out.
Children can join in Mapping Imaginary Worlds, a children’s writing workshop with Vashti Hardy. They also have the opportunity to celebrate the Gruffalo’s 20th birthday with Julia Donaldson and friends – including the Gruffalo himself!
Join them for a funpacked show of dramatised stories, songs and audience participation! Nick Sharratt is holding a Big Father’s Day Family Draw-Along, bring your favourite pens and paper will be provided, and as its Fathers’ Day there is free coffee and bacon butties for Dads!
Adults can enjoy an Evening with Lucy Foley on Monday 17 June. She will be discussing her latest novel The Hunting Party, a fiendishly twisty murder mystery set in a remote Scottish hunting lodge.
If you’re looking at writing your own book, novelist and creative writing coach Beth Miller is leading aspiring writers in a two-hour workshop focusing on story and character development with lashings of tea and home-made cake to keep the creativity going.
On Thursday 20 June, Steyning Bookshop presents Justin Hopper and Sharron Kraus performing their new album Chanctonbury Rings live at the Gluck Studio. Through spoken word and music, the piece tells of uncanny encounters with the mist-shrouded Sussex landmark.
It is based on American writer Hopper’s book The Old Weird Albion, and his childhood visits to Steyning, with new music composed by psych-folk artist Sharron Kraus, which she performs live on synths, strings, woodwinds and more. This performance marks the world debut of the Chanctonbury Rings album.
ADVENTURES IN ART ‘Adventures in Art – The Association of Sussex Artists’ is a stunning and colourful exhibition which opens at Horsham Museum and Art Gallery on June 8 and runs to July 20.
It showcases some of the great artists of Sussex today whilst connecting to the past masters as it also explores the fascinating story of the 90 year old Horsham-based Association.
Adventures in Art reveals how a Mr. J. T. McGaw founded the association through a call for artists to exhibit at the newly opened Horsham Drill Hall. The response was encouraging enough to create the association three months later.
The museum will be displaying one of the paintings from that very first meeting, Bainbridge Copnall’s Calves at Horsham Market alongside art painted by current members for the exhibition.
The association’s aim was to encourage art, including the crafts, by holding an annual exhibition of artists born or working in Sussex.
Adventures in Art draws on Horsham Museum’s collection of art acquired over the last 60 years as it sought to hold works created by Horsham District people.
The association wanted to be part of the Districtwide Year of Culture and this exhibition will display some of the best art around.
With art by leading Sussex artists, Alison Ingram, Dennis Roxby Bott, Ben Smith, Claire Phillips, John Davies, Angela Britton, Gordon Rushmer and 20 other artists, it will be a show that art lovers will not want to miss.
A number of the current members’ exquisite artworks will be available for purchase.
This is just a selection of the wonderful events happening in June. You can find full details at www.hdculture2019. co.uk, or pick up a #HDYOC19 programme. Please check booking information and prices prior to attending an event as booking is essential for most events.
You can follow @ hdculture2019 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up to date with the Year of Culture.