THE 2017 Painswick Valley Art Festival, ‘Art Burst’, which will run from Saturday, August 19 until Monday, August 28, is upgrading its presence to make it into a more comprehensive venue for local artists, covering the whole area of the Painswick valley including Cranham, Sheepscombe, Painswick, Edge and Pitchcombe.

The success of the bi-annual Art Couture festival in Painswick, has encouraged the Art Society to confirm its exhibition in the interim years and extend its coverage for local artists by re-naming itself the Painswick Valley Art Festival, with membership open to all artists in the surrounding area.

Chairman and festival organiser, Jackie Herbert said: "Our 2017 ‘Art Burst’ event will take place from Saturday, August 19 through until the Monday Bank holiday, August 28, giving our artists 10 full opening days, including two weekends, to show their talent to the public.

"The 2015 Art Burst Festival gathered the works of over 60 artists from the area and attracted more than 2,000 visitors.

"The membership for artists wishing to join will be £20 and local sponsors and patrons will be approached to help fund the arrangements and publicity to enable us to make this year the biggest and best ‘Art Burst’ ever."

Special display rates have been negotiated with the three main venues, the Town Hall, the Painswick Centre and the Church rooms and the 12th century St Mary’s Church, where there will be a display of flower art, plus the possibility of demonstrations by local artists or craftspeople.

A full colour catalogue of artists and examples of their highly affordable works, a map of the exhibition locations and local sponsors’ refreshment and dining facilities, will be available free of charge to all visitors.

There will be no entry fees for any of the exhibitions.

  •  Visit artburstpainswick.co.uk. Local artists are urged to register their interest as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.