There’s an art to having fun with art

“The St Monans Community Arts Festival is very serious about art being fun,” says the Festival’s chairperson Ruth Craib, “and we want everyone to join in that fun. We want to attract people who might not think they would enjoy an arts festival.”

“If you think arts festivals are just about looking at paintings hanging on walls and listening to musical recitals, then think again. We do have plenty to offer in that department, but we also have a huge range of other activities available, with the emphasis on participation and making it enjoyable for all ages.

“There are opportunities for hands-on involvement making pottery, decorating glass, and playing world music; and though such activities may not immediately spring to mind as art forms, we also have diabolo juggling and blowing giant bubbles.

“To be fair, there is a huge amount of artistry in the skills that will be on display and getting taught by diabolo juggler extraordinaire Donald Grant. In his hands, it is definitely a performing art.

“There is also an art to blowing really big bubbles. They are visually very beautiful, full of swirling colours and reflections, and not least, they were amazing fun and hugely popular with kids and adults when we introduced them last year; so this year we are aiming to make them bigger and more beautiful than ever!”

Other workshops include a session on yoga and creativity; demonstrations and talks about watercolour painting, oil painting, the use of acrylic underpainting; making jewellery and ornaments from sea glass and other beach fragments; and there will also be guided tours of St Monans and its history.

The festival centre, in St Monans Church Hall, will provide a café with snacks and lots of home-baked goodies, alongside craft stalls and art and photographic exhibitions. Other venues around the village will host open houses, music events and workshops.

• The festival takes place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September.
• Full details are available on www.facebook.com/stmonans/ and stmonans.org.uk/blog/events/arts-festival/