Showcasing the best creative talent
Some of the best creative talent around is showcased every day at Ilminster Arts Centre, so why not pop in and bring friends and family too?
The multi-arts venue offers something for everyone - from an opportunity to enjoy high-class live music most weeks to a chance to feast your eyes on superb art exhibitions every month. Or you can take part in creative classes with expert tutors, browse the boutique shop, which is stocked with top quality handmade goods crafted by local artisans, and top your visit off by sampling delicious refreshments from the café.
Over the next month, Ilminster Arts Centre is hosting performances from a swing jazz quartet, an evening of fabulous folk music featuring the famous Farey family, a not-to-be-missed tribute to David Bowie, a jazz night featuring one of the UK's most acclaimed jazz violinists, and a classical performance presented by Concerts in the West with a talented string quartet playing pieces from the Austrian composers Haydn, Schubert and Webern.
In the Gallery, visitors can enjoy a colourful and humorous exhibition from artists Nancy Farmer and Sophie Galliers until 3 September. There are even printed swimming hats for sale! On Saturday, 20 August there's the opportunity to meet both artists who will be talking about their work and what inspires them.
From 6 to 24 September, in an exhibition called 'Wild', the Gallery plays host to the creativity of a multi-talented group of West Country textile artists whose work includes needle-felting, mixed media, paint and contemporary quilting.
All exhibitions are free to enter and the work on display is for sale. Each item sold helps to sustain the art centre's activities.
Last month the talent of local artists was celebrated in the annual Ilminster Open Exhibition, sponsored by Branston, and prizes were awarded to the winners at a well-attended presentation evening.
The overall winner selected by judges was Iain Dryden, with Naomi Kendall and Fiona Godfrey in Runner-Up spot. Sue Smallwood won the 3D art prize and Jacob Trood, a fine art graduate from the University of the West of England, was chosen as the Young Artist of the year with an imaginative sculpture of a beekeeper's smoker.
Julia McKenzie's 'Shoreline' won the Visitors' Choice award, voted by the general public.
If you'd like to get involved in Ilminster Arts Centre as a volunteer, make new friends and give something back to the community please email iacvolunteers@outlook.com. We'd love to hear from you. All welcome.