The 10 Parishes Festival

About

The biennial 10 Parishes Festival returns to Wiveliscombe and surrounding villages this September. Open studios and exhibitions form the centrepiece of this visual and performing arts event with over 70 artists participating over the nine days from Saturday 9th until Sunday 17th.

This year’s theme is a celebration of the B3227, the road that sweeps from the western edge of Taunton all the way to North Devon, but most importantly, running through many of the 10 Parishes.

Some artists have duly already taken inspiration such as Victoria Ward who has completed a series of maps for the ten parishes, all inspired by the 16th century Ottoman navigational maps of Piri Reis. Victoria will be exhibiting in Wiveliscombe Community Centre, along with Teresa Wilson, Chris Howe and John Abraham.

David Leyland and Simon Healy exhibit under the title of ‘Enigma’ in Milverton – their joint force will present a unique exhibition bringing together their individual styles and mediums in a collaborative retrospective.

Festival favourites Forkbeard Fantasy return with Mechanical Flowers, an installation by Chris Britton along with five animation shorts by Tim Britton. These surreal compositions can be found in the Wiveliscombe garden (and garden shed!) of another exhibitor, Louise Waugh.

Performances are another large part of the festival, an example being respected folk duo the Askew Sisters at Cotleigh Brewery on Saturday 16th.