The 2012 Festival...
Friday 17th August to Sunday 19th August 2012
Time to the 2012 Festival:
2011 Festival a Great Success!
West Malvern's second Arts Festival in 2011 turned out to be a much larger event than the first with around two thousand people seeing the extensive range of artwork provided by about eighty artists.
Work on dislay or for sale included pottery, garden ornaments, steel sculpture, textiles, jewellery, art by West Malvern Primary School, stained glass, paintings, photography and much more. The 2011 festival also saw the inclusion of music and poetry in St James' Church.
A well known local character, 'volunteered' by other residents to be the "Village Crier", and in tradional garb of breeches, red jacket and tricorn hat, and armed with a loud voice and bell, made for considerable impact,and publicity,for the success of the event.
Both artists and visitors loved the informality and relaxed atmosphere of the festival, with its free entry for all, and were able to stroll around the fifteen different venues, ranging from large ones like the Elim Centre to gazebos, garages and a garden, talking to fellow visitors, old friends and artist. Three Information points and 
stewards were available to point visitors in the right direction, and programmes provided a useful map and a list of artists.
The weather was a vast improvement on the previous year, and the magnificent views from the village out to the west could also be admired. The Brewers Arms had barbecues on both Saturday and Sunday, and reported a lot of interest from drinkers in the specially brewed Arty Pharty festival ale provided by the local Malvern Hills Brewery. Both the Elim Cafe and the Church also reported a brisk trade in refreshments.
The Festival depended on the co-operation and hard work of many residents and volunteers, and saw a lot of people in different roles working together with a real local community spirit. The organising committee would like to thank all those who in any way helped to make the Festival the undoubted success it has turned out to be.
Many thanks must also go to Laurie Gregory whose idea it was to have an Arts Festival in West Malvern as a way of raising funds for The Malvern Hills Community Foundation, the charity he founded for the benefit of the people living in the wider Malvern Hills area.
Interested in exhibiting in 2012?
If you would like to like to exhibit at the 2012 festival, please get in touch with Laurie Gregory, Chairman of the Malvern Hills Community Foundation, by emailing him here.
Photos of the 2011 Festival coming soon; please check here shortly to see them...
Meanwhile, why not check out some of the pictures from the 2010 Festival...
... and listen to the podcast of the 2010 Festival?
Based on the Arts Festival at Saint Ceneri Le Gerei en France, the West Malvern Arts Festival features the work of some of the most interesting artists in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
