Warwickshire News Mine

Compton Verney Art Gallery and Warwickshire libraries are hosting a spectacular event-filled weekend for all the family on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September. Aimed at families, the weekend includes storytellers, illustrators, authors, workshops, bounce and rhyme for under 3s, free giveaways and much, much more.

A joint bid between Warwickshire County Council and Compton Verney Art Gallery to the Arts Council for funding was successful and will enable the event to be staged this year and in 2007. 

Acts confirmed for this year’s event include:
· Clare Beaton, a children’s book illustrator who will be giving workshops on collage based craft
· Robert Crowther, a children’s author who will be talking about designing pop up books and running paper engineering workshops
· Annamation, three storytellers who will be touring the county’s libraries in the ten days prior to the festival
· Jo Bell, a poet and archaeologist, who will run the adult poetry writing workshop
· Ian McMillan, a poet and broadcaster, who is running the young people’s writing workshop
· Deborah Moggach, a novelist who will be talking about her screenplay for the recent Pride and Prejudice film.

Liz Wood, principal librarian for Children’s Services and Family Learning at Warwickshire County Council, said:  “Last year’s event was well attended and well enjoyed.  The feedback we had from those who were present indicated how successful the event had been.  We are thrilled that it can be offered once again to all families within Warwickshire – whether they be art lovers, book lovers or simply looking for something that will be great fun and interesting for all the family, whatever their age.”

Many other scheduled performances are being held over the weekend, which opens from 11am to 5pm and is £4 for adults, children get in free. To avoid any disappointment make sure you sign up early on the day for the most popular events.

Compton Verney Art Gallery is set amid the grounds of the Grade I listed mansion designed in the 1760s.  The mansion was bought by the Peter Moores Foundation in 1993 and restored to a gallery of international standard housing three floors of gallery spaces, a purpose built learning centre and a shop and café.

Its collections include portraits of such celebrated figures as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the largest collection of British folk art, Northern European medieval art and an extensive range of Neapolitan art dating from 1600 to 1800.

For more information on this jam-packed weekend contact Compton Verney on 01926 645500 or Warwickshire Libraries on 01926 412867.

For more information please visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/libraries or http://www.comptonverney.co.uk

Link to WCC