A LIVELY programme of more than 40 events and activities in 14 community venues has now been confirmed for Cradley Heath Arts Festival 2018.

The festival will this year run from Friday, June 1, to the main festival day on Saturday, June 9, with the Art Yard hosting a special exhibition of any art, crafts and performances from the festival between June 25 and 30.

Highlights of the Cradley Heath Creative organised event include Cradley Heath Male Voice Choir at Ivan’s and Joe’s Place Fish and Chip restaurants during lunchtime on Saturday, June 2 and a free Landscape Challenge, using any medium, at Haden Hill Park on Sunday, June 3, between 11am and 5pm.

While on Saturday, June 9 – Festival Day – a range of activities will take place at the Holly Bush Pub (live music and spoken word performances and arts workshops), Cradley Heath Community Centre (Model Railway Club), The Art Yard and Oss Box (exhibition and workshops), Iconoclast Constructs (metal work), Cradley Heath Library (children’s workshops), and two workshops on reconstructing old photographs of Cradley Heath with mobile phones.

During the festival week, various crafts groups at Haden Hill House, the Community Centre, Library, Tesco Community Room, Community Link and the Salvation Army will be opening their doors for demonstrations and taster sessions.

The Moon Under Water will be celebrating 21 years in Cradley Heath with a live band on the evening of Tuesday, June 5, and BUGS Ukulele Strummers visit the Salvation Army on Thursday, June 7.

People should also look out for two unusual attractions. Plaster of Harris is opening its doors during the festival week, when staff are in the building, to allow people to see how they make traditional decorative plaster work, while The Caravan Gallery – a Sprite-sized caravan of international fame – will be paying a visit to Cradley Heath on June 9. It is preparing to take part in the Sandwell-wide arts festival, Blast! Festival, which is being organised by Multistory next year.

Visitors can find out more about the festival on www.cradleyheathcreative.co.uk and Cradley Heath Creative on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or contact Fran Wilde on 07952 563725.