Welcome

WW1 Tribute Events

A highlight this year is our special tribute events planned as part of the Commemoration of the WW1 Centenary in Market Drayton organised by the Royal British Legion. Keith Pybus is leading a WW1 walk around the town on Friday 26^th October; St Mary’s Bellringers will be running a special workshop on Saturday in St Mary’s Church for people interested in joining the team and as a tribute to the 1400 Bellringers nationwide who lost their lives during the Great War; Market Drayton Flower Club are creating a Commemorative display in the Memorial Garden; A special WW1 mural is being created at the Phoenix Centre out of hand made poppies and old buttons donated by people in the town. Lastly, we are delighted to have the Mercian Regimental Band performing a WW1 Tribute Concert on the Sunday afternoon at the Festival Drayton Centre.

Live Events

This year’s Drayton ArtFest also offers special stage performances at the Festival Drayton Centre by Jive Talkin’ Bee Gees Tribute Band and ‘Instant Wit’, an hilarious and innovative comedy show performed all around the UK and, for this show, specially featuring Bryn Holding ,an ex member of MD Amdrams; A talk by Andrew Gurr, former Governor of the Falklands Islands; A lunchtime Piano and Saxophone Duet recital by highly acclaimed musicians Raewyn Bailey and Helen Southall from Chester; A Photographic Workshop Walk with Josh Sedgely and his dad [Winner of this year’s BBC Countryfile Winter Photographic Competition]; Live music on Friday and Saturday from local bands at The Red Lion; On Sunday, Southampton based Grant Sharkey performing his brand of original satirical songs at The Sandbrook Vaults and a performance on Saturday of ‘Voice’, the Emmeline Pankhurst Story in the Library.

Local Showcase Events, Fun Stuff and Workshops

We have the Festival’s usual creative confection of showcase performances by local groups and individuals in venues round the town. Photographic and Art Exhibitions, including the 100+ finalists for the Annual School’s Calendar Project; A Craft Fair; Halloween Party and a Quiz Night at Wetherspoons; Opportunities for adults to try Sequence or Country Dancing, Make Cocktails and washout Hair Colourings. There is also lots of fun stuff for children and opportunities for both adults and children to try out creative skills in this year’s exciting selection of Art/ Craft and Cookery workshops.

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere thanks to  The Grove and Local Primary Schools, The Festival Drayton Centre, The Beacon Centre, St Mary’s and the Methodist Churches, The Royal British Legion, The Phoenix Centre, The Zone, Market Drayton Museum, Fordhall Farm, Joules Brewery, Market Drayton Library, Image on Food, Sainsburys, Morrisons, Market Drayton Art Club, Market Drayton Lions, Market Drayton Flower Club; Market Drayton Air Cadets, Market Drayton Men’s Shed, Mark Whittle, Laurence Payne, Michael Tann and all our talented guest and regular local contributors.

For support with funding:
Market Drayton Town Council and Shropshire Arts Council,

For support with Publicity.
Martin Wozencraft, Hamish Armytage, Nick Ainsworth, The Drayton Gossip, Mike Smith, Glyn Jackson, Ian Cameron, Roy Hughes, Weldon Cheek and Graham Edwards

For support with Fundraising.

The Band of the Mercian Regiment; City of Stoke Male Voice Choir and Christine Wylie 

Notice about Drayton ArtsFest 2018 and loss of Annual Grant Funding

We will be asking for voluntary donations for some events [normally free]. This is to help with our overall administration costs and to sustain our ‘low cost entry’ principle for special guest appearances and workshops