As part of our #StokeYourCreativity campaign, we will be giving you the unique opportunity to get involved with The Social Dis-Dance, an online creative dance project. Follow us on Facebook for the latest updates!!

Register your interest to take part by emailing festival@basingstoke.gov.uk

This project is supported by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

This installment of ‘Proteus recommends’ is, admittedly, an epic one, but hopefully with something for everyone; from online theatrical gems, to some great TV to stream in celebration of LGBT+ History month. The Proteus team share their favourite digital experiences from the first 4 weeks of 2021.

As part of our #StokeYourCreativity campaign, Pumpkin Pantos will be bringing you FOUR fairy tales based in Basingstoke for children and their families.

From Jack and the Beanstalk to Cinderella, Aladdin to Snow White, but with a Basingstoke twist!

New stories posted every Friday throughout February – catch up with them on our YouTube channel or on Facebook pages @BasingstokeFestival @PumpkinPantos

This project is supported by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

A FREE psychologically informed online art-based project for veterans and their families.

Art is a great way to spend time together playing and learning. With families spending more time together due to Covid-19, pressures can build. Participating in a shared activity can help to relieve pressure and bring people together.

Through a series of weekly workshops, we will combine practical art activities to help teach you how to draw and create with freedom, Plus you will learn how past experiences affect emotions, as well as techniques that will enable you to quickly and effectively deal with emotional situations.

More information: basingstoketopofthetown@gmail.com

This project is kindly supported by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

A new podcast series aimed primarily at college and university students and recent graduates who are interested in pursuing a career in theatre. In the episodes, we talk to theatre professionals working in various different roles within theatre (actors, writers, directors, stage managers) to make people more aware of the different career paths that are open to them within theatre.

Spotify, Apple or search for ‘Cyphers Theatre Podcast’

Downloadable ART ACTIVITY GUIDES are available as well as some free art to brighten the world!

As a freelance artist, it’s my mission to provide you with escapism, colour and creativity during these testing times. That’s why I’m bringing you Isolation Inspiration this springtime – art tutorials, new paintings, and a few surprises too.

To do my small part to help people get through this tough time of enforced self isolation and to thank everyone who bought a copy of my IKEA Colouring Poster, I’ve decided to add these black and white artworks to my website for anyone to print and colour at home for free. I hope they can fill a few hours of boredom. If you colour one, please email me photos and I’ll add them to this page for everyone to see.

To download them, simply right click on an image and select ‘open in new tab’. You can then save the image or send it to print.

As an independent artist I’ve had a couple of mural jobs and art fairs put on hold / postponed because of the coronavirus, but my online shop remains open and worldwide deliveries are taking place as usual. I’m making sure to track shipments even closer than usual and am monitoring the news regularly for advice on this.

As always, enjoy the artwork and have fun creating!

Kev Munday

Hampshire Cultural Trust is delighted to premier The Sunday Times Watercolour Competition 2020 shortlist and winners at the Willis Museum, Basingstoke.

The gallery is currently closed, but you can still have a look around the gallery virtually, from the comfort of your own home

The renowned competition is the largest and most prestigious prize for contemporary watercolour painting in the UK. Over the past 33 years it has attracted entries from artists working in abstract, figurative, contemporary or traditional subject matter, with the aim of celebrating and redefining the beauty and diversity of all water-based media.

Basingstoke Art Class has a range of classes and courses available and these are currently running online. You can choose from a range of activities including painting, drawing and even ‘wine and paint’ evenings. Led by local artist Liam Kelleher, there really is something for everyone.

Art can be extremely therapeutic and has been known to help with depression and anxiety as well as helping with improving the memory and keeping the body and mind active.  You can express yourself in your art and get blissfully lost in the moment as many students do.

No experience necessary. Come and join the fun!

The Great Big Art Exhibition launched today, led by Firstsite and supported by the Plus Tate Network and Arts Council England! From first-timers and dabblers through to enthusiasts and professional artists, you can all help unleash a wave of creativity across the country by creating and sharing your own artwork.

Anything goes for The Great Big Art Exhibition – the only limit is your imagination! There’s an activity pack to help get you started, packed with inspiration from brilliant artists and amazing UK collections. Everybody is invited to take part, so join in to make this the largest exhibition ever staged!