The Ely Arts Festival voluntary committee are making the final preparations for the Ely Arts Festival 2022 programme, which runs from Friday 17th June to Friday 1st July.
It includes a variety of events for everyone to enjoy. Highlights include professional theatre company Impromptu Shakespeare, who present an improvised Shakespeare play in The Maltings on Thursday 23rd June and the ‘Jubilee Jamboree’ family day in Jubilee Gardens on Saturday 25th June. This is a free day of music, theatre and art, with food vans.
The committee, working with Babylon Arts, are pleased to have received a grant from the Let’s Create Jubilee Fund from Arts Council England through Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, to support parts of the festival, including a ceramic Lion Trail across the city, documenting the reign of Elizabeth II and #PictureEly, a day of art on the market square. The charitable organisation’s Chief Executive, Claire Somerville said “We’re pleased to be working with Ely Arts Festival to help create new opportunities for arts and culture across Ely, in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee.”
There will also be a series of concerts taking place in the historic Sessions House from rising star musicians from the Royal College of Music and Guildhall School of Music.
Artistic Director and Chair of Ely Arts Festival, Chris Parsons said “We're really excited for this year's programme of events and activities, and we hope that there's something for everyone to enjoy! Our aim is to make the festival accessible and bring lots of high quality arts to Ely. The festival wouldn't be possible without our sponsors, Lovewell Blake, Poets House, Bovingdons and East Cambridgeshire District Council, as well as collaborating with many wonderful organisations across the city. We look forward to welcoming you from Friday 17th June to Friday 1st July for an exciting two weeks of events.”
The festival culminates with ‘The Carnival of the Animals’, a community celebration in Ely Cathedral on Friday 1st July. It will feature 300 local school children singing animal-themed music, including medleys from The Lion King and Jungle Book and music by Saint Saëns, Mancini with a live orchestra and professional soloists. The concert will begin with a colourful carnival parade down the nave with school children wearing animal head-dresses created in workshops provided by the festival. The recently debuted ‘Eel-izabeth’ will also take part in the parade, giving residents another opportunity to view the new Jubilee inspired eel after the Eel Parade on Sunday 5th June.
To find out more information about the Ely Arts Festival’s 2022 programme and how to book for events visit: www.elyartsfestival.org