Countdown to Festival Programme Launch

Festival organisers are busy making the final preparations for the launch of the 2010 Arts Festival brochure which takes place this Friday.  Special guests will get the first glimpse of the brochure at an exclusive event on May 7 and the programme will become available online and in brochure format over the weekend.

World-class literary figures, musicians and comedy performers are rumoured to be part of the line-up for 2010, together with an exhibition and talk by renowned photographer Martin Parr.

Hebden Bridge. Tom Greenwood cleaning. 1976
© Martin Parr/Magnum Photos

Festival Co-ordinator Rebecca Yorke said: “We feel very privileged that Martin will be returning to Hebden Bridge for the Festival. And showing his photographs in our box office, just doors away from where he co-founded the Albert Street workshop in the mid-seventies, is a perfect way to celebrate the HB500 anniversary.”

The countdown to the launch is always a busy time, but this year plans were almost derailed by world events. Graphic artist David Burnop, designer of the cover illustration, was stranded abroad due to the volcanic ash cloud and had to email his design from an internet café in Spain.  Rebecca explained, “The print deadline was just a few days away when we realised Dave was still abroad, but thanks to mobile phones and the internet, everything turned out alright. We’re now all set for an exciting summer.”

One of the highlights of this year’s Festival, the converted Routemaster bus, is booking up with musicians and performers keen to make use of a quirky and unusual venue, but some slots are still available.  Contact hbfestival@gmail.com for more information.

The 2010 Festival runs from June 26 to July 11. For more information visit www.hbaf.co.uk, or pick up a brochure around Hebden Bridge over the weekend.

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