Spend summer by the water enjoying music, dance, and sculpture

As part of the Southern Broads Cultural Initiative, South Norfolk Council will be presenting a series of events over the summer continuing to bring high quality arts into this mainly rural area.

Throughout the summer the council’s unique mobile bandstand will visit various villages and towns, with Riverside Recitals for residents and visitors to the Southern Broads.

Following last autumn’s highly successful celebration of the dark skies of South Norfolk - the Celestial Festival - Cultural Regeneration Manager Heidi Hadley is aiming to “further contribute to the sense of cultural vibrancy” in the area. This time the theme is summertime.

She said: “The mobile bandstand is part of our initiative to provide a venue for the arts in our rural communities, where there has not been an arena for performances. The fun kicks off this weekend with Drake’s Progress, featuring tales and music of Tudor life.”

Cllr Jane Walker whose portfolio is Culture and Learning, says the Waterside Weekends are a vital part of Norfolk’s cultural tourism:

“The recitals are so exciting, offering a wide variety of musical events to appeal to as many people as possible. Each weekend from July 3 to August 14, there’s the promise of a unique series of concerts, all set on the banks of the Southern Broads. There’s Tudor music and drama, a brass band, jazz, opera, African music, dance and storytelling and the London Mozart players.

“We hope the recitals will attract many thousands of tourists into the area over the coming months. Come and join us – the events are all free.”

As well as the Riverside Recitals, the Waterside Weekends will present artists in residence. From July 24 to August 22 they will be creating non-permanent sculptures as a temporary art exhibition called Sculpting Summer.

Heidi Hadley explained:

“Sculpting Summer is a great chance to see art actually being created before your eyes! The artists in residence will be working at four sites over one or two weekends, creating temporary works of art. With the theme of summertime, they will use such materials as water, earth, willow and reed, to give each work of art a feel specific to the site.

“The artwork will not be permanent, but we hope the experience will be one to remember for a long time to come!

“We are also asking everyone who comes to see these live exhibitions, to take part in a consultation about public art. The idea is to find out what people really want from public art – for you to let us know about the kind of artwork you would like to see in the area.”

There’s no need to book, just turn up and enjoy the sights and sounds.

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