Purbecks New Festival Kicks Off With A Bang

Online, April 12, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Purbeck Art Weeks (main sponsor Imerys) will open with a bang this year, promising a day to remember for all the family. The unsurpassed beauty of Corfe Castle in the heart of the region, provides a stunning back drop for the Festival launch. In the afternoon, there will be artists' stalls in the Castle grounds and after 6.00 pm entry is free. The evening activities are sponsored by Booth's of Wareham.

One of the highlights of the event is a samba workshop for all ages held by Dorset collective Magic Drum at Corfe's Royal British Legion on East Street from 4.30 pm. At 6.30 pm the drummers will then make a procession down West Street along with the Fanfare musicians. There are 40 workshop places available and participants aged from eight to eighty will be welcome. Please phone 01929 439 351 to book a place. The workshop is free but a donation will be encouraged.

The 'Fanfare' is provided by a spectacular performance of trumpets from the Royal Military School of Music, followed by Marylebone Trombone Quartet and The Bournemouth Symphony Brass Quintet. A performance from Meridian Brass ensemble completes this momentous musical line up.

Magic Drum and the collective of drummers will also perform and at sundown there will be an amazing display of fire and flames by Matt Wilkinson.

The BSO's Chalk Legends project will also be prominent at the opening
event. The Chalk Legends is BSO's project in line with the London 2012
Cultural Olympiad whereby the BSO are engaging with villages throughout
Dorset in 2011/12 through working with community ensembles to create
pieces of music about Dorset's rich heritage with the support of a BSO
ensembles. The fruits of the work in the villages will then be brought
together for a celebratory concert, in this case here at the opening of
the Purbeck Art Weeks Festival. To get involved or read more on the
project visit www.chalklegends.com

The National Trust in partnership with the festival is absolutely delighted to be involved, in what promises to be a show- stopping evening.

Lawrence Roots, Corfe Castle's Visitor services manager said:
This is totally unprecedented; I think everyone from our visitors, to members of the local community are going to be blown away. It's going to be an event to remember.

For more information about the opening go to :
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/event-search/events/show/2108050326

Or for more information about the Festival programme:
www.purbeckartweeks.co.uk

For press enquiries:
Contact Emma Fernandez,
Violet PR, tel 078 497 48 434,
email: [email protected]