Welcome

The Rotherham Open Arts Festival is organised by the Rotherham Culture Company and is dedicated to celebrating community arts and bringing artistic events of international quality to Rotherham. Following on from its success in 2006/7 we are bringing the famous Idolize Spiegeltent back by public demand. It has graced some of the world's leading festivals and so don't miss the experience here in All Saints Square, Rotherham.

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A Celebration of Rotherham and Local Talent: Embracing music, theatre, poetry, talks, workshops and street arts it promises to have something to appeal to all and most of it will be free. Both festival Saturdays will reprise the hugely successful combination of street performances and Spiegeltent shows that filled the town centre last year, devised by Swamp Circus the performances will run from 10am to around 3pm.

On the first Saturday (4th) you'll also be able to hear a late afternoon feature from the Karen Mulcahey Band (4.30pm) and on the 11th (4pm) Ray Hearne will be in concert.
The festival's evening programme presents more great local artists, including Toein' in the Dark (5th), Open Minds Theatre Company performing The Threepenny Opera (10th), and a Bhangra Night with Soundpipe Records artists Bee2, Taj-e, Nitasha, DJ Phoneixx, Tank, Horizon and Gavi (11th). As ever, the Spiegeltent offers a stage for many local youth and amateur performers and the Rotherham Arts Literature Panel presents an evening of 'Flash Drama' (6th), Rotherham College of Arts & Technology offer a chance to hear some of their best new talent (3rd), Open Minds Youth Theatre are producing Lord of the Flies (4th) and Kimberworth Male Voice Choir will be singing an afternoon concert (10th).
A special date for Rotherham's folk clubs will be on the final Sunday (2-4.30pm 12th) when 8 clubs come together to share the stage for what will be a memorable afternoon. Visiting artists include the brilliant young percussionist Joby Burgess who will be working with Rotherham Ethnic Drumming and presenting an early lunchtime concert combining solo and ensemble works (Noon 10th).
King Rollo and his group (including the wonderful harmonica player, Laurent Mouflier) returns with a specially devised end of festival celebration concert of blues and African music called 'The Rhythm of Life'. Ensemble 360 will be playing their first concert in the Arts Centre (10th) with a programme of Purcell, Kurtag (Quartet Op.1), Schubert (Quartet in C minor D.703 Quartettsatz) and Mendelssohn (Quartet in D Op.44 No.1).

National Poetry Day (9th October) In association with Rotherham Libraries, the festival will be celebrating National Poetry Day with the launch of RMBC's Children's Poetry Anthology and offering everyone a chance to listen and write their own work in the morning. A special lunchtime event is being given by the York Literary Festival who have devised a performance called 'Subterranean Homesick Yorkshire Blues' , which includes poems, songs, stories and comedy all informed and inspired by the work of Bob Dylan. In the afternoon Ray Hearne will lead poetry workshops for adults and lyric writing for younger people. Internationally renowned storyteller Christine McMahon will give us an evening of northern, stories and folk tales that reflect the humour and the harshness of the people from the white and red rose counties, accompanied by fiddler Paul Roberts.

Have a look through the programme and we're sure you'll find something to get excited about. We're only round the corner from the train and bus stations.
Rotherham Renaissance Day (8th) Once again we host a public consultation day on behalf of Rotherham Renaissance. It is an open invitation for all to discover the latest developments in town centre regeneration and a chance to register your feedback on the progress being made.
For further information call Sean Rourke on 07802 442019