Oxford Festival of the Arts has announced its extensive summer line-up, starting today, which includes dance, theatre, visual arts, film, music, street performance and even wine tasting, thanks to headline sponsor Savills which is supporting the event.
Ox In a Box is once again proud to be supporting Oxford Festival of the Arts and audiences are in for an exciting and diverse 2021 summer season, through working in partnership with arts organisations both in Oxford and internationally,
Magdalen College School founded Oxford Festival of the Arts in 2009 and the school remains the principal sponsor of the Festival.
The programme kicks off on May 20 at 7.30pm with theatre meeting art in Tableaux Vivants (see above pic). Based on the tableaux vivants or living pictures technique, Ludovica Rambelli Theatre recreate 23 of the finest Caravaggio paintings as the actors and a few props bring the canvases to life. With thanks to Savills, headline sponsors of OFA Virtual 2021Watch the performance here https://vimeo.com/event/966990
On Thursday June 10 at 7.30pm is Drinking with Bach. Broadcaster Hannah French and wine historian Ron Merlino discuss Bach and pair their musical choices with complementary wines. Accompanying taster packs are available from the festival website. With thanks to Savills, headline sponsors of OFA Virtual 2021. Join the event here https://vimeo.com/event/967024
On Thursday June 17, at 7.30pm is Inferno with the NoGravity Theatre. Inferno based on Dante’s La Divina Commedia, marks the 700th anniversary of the poet’s death. With thanks to Savills, headline sponsors of OFA Virtual 2021. Watch the performance here https://vimeo.com/event/967031
The following week on Thursday June 24, at 7.30 is This World Made Itself. Multimedia artist Miwa Matreyek performs Myth and Infrastructure and This World Made Itself, combining animation, projection and shadow work. With thanks to Savills, headline sponsors of OFA Virtual 2021.
See the performance here https://vimeo.com/event/967058
Throughout May and June, a series of short films called Four Artists will be available to watch. Oxford Festival of the Arts in collaboration with Oxfordshire Artweeks will present the short films about the work of four Oxford artists: Becky Paton mosaicist, Vital Peeters glass artist, Elaine Kazimierczuk landscape painter and Piotr Gargas sculptor.
In May, June and July, OFA presents films of the winning scores from the Say it in 60 Seconds composition project for solo trumpet performed by Brendan Ball, and until July audiences can enjoy The Phoenix Art Project.
The Phoenix is a symbol of rebirth, life, hope and magic. OFA is calling for artistic responses in any medium that can be digitised. Open to all, entries will be displayed in an online gallery. In partnership with Oxfordshire Artweeks. All the details are here https://artsfestivaloxford.org/the-phoenix-send-us-your-artistic-responses/
On Saturday July 3, from 10.30am, Alice’s Day will be celebrated with a joint event between OFA and The Story Museum with a roaming street performance in central Oxford featuring Alice in giant puppet form, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and talking flowers.
Find out more here https://artsfestivaloxford.org/events/alices-day/
On Wednesday July 7 audiences can enjoy Gaia. OFA has commissioned this new choreography and music composition, Gaia – Gaian thinking is not a luxury performed by Contact Dance Company from Malta choreographed by Francesca Tranter.
It will premiere on the OFA YouTube channel, and is part of a call out to community dance groups in Oxford and its twin cities Bonn, Grenoble, Leiden, Padua, Wrocław, Perm, Leon, and Ramallah, to respond to the theme of Gaia as part of ‘Artivism’ – International Digital and Live Festival, in partnership with Oxford’s Mandala Theatre Company, Ashtar Theatre Ramallah, Oxford International Links and Dancin’ Oxford. The Global Dance Film of the works sent in by the dance groups will premiere at the same time.
Festival Director Dr Michelle Castelletti said “Thinking creatively is what we do in the Arts sector; and this is our way of retaining fun, interaction, enchantment and enrichment, as well as meaning through our programming.”
Helen Pike, Master of MCS added: “Once again the Oxford Festival of the Arts brings us enchantment, inspiration and above all enjoyment. We all need something to look forward to this summer, and these events are definitely ones to put in your calendar.”
More information at artsfestivaloxford.org
