OUR IDEA

Last year, a group of Durham University students got talking about the limited opportunities for producing and exhibiting exciting art in Durham, and we decided to do something about it. The Art Garden Society was born; our idea to give people, regardless of their age, sex or background, the chance to be involved in an open air Exhibition and Festival to be held at the Durham Botanic Gardens in June 2007. The exhibition, based on the theme of the natural world, will incorporate drawing, painting, moving image, photography, sculpture, installations, and any other media that people can come up with.

OUR AIMS

• To promote and encourage the arts within Durham, and to provide a platform for both students and local people to exhibit and view Durham artistic talent in the beautiful surroundings of the Botanic Gardens, totally free of charge.
• To improve the relationship between students and local residents of the city, and to encourage cohesion within the community by working together on this project.
• To celebrate the University’s 175th Anniversary as part of the University’s wider celebrations.
• To educate people on the local environment and conservation through the Botanic Gardens and the theme of the exhibition, and to encourage people to use public open spaces.
• To cover all aspects of the arts through the Festival by providing a platform for musicians, poets, theatre companies and more.

EVENTS

Exhibition

Saturday 16th June – Friday 22nd June (10am – 5pm)
The Exhibition will be open during the day to all visitors to the Botanic Gardens.

Opening Night

Saturday 16th June, (7 – 11.30pm)
The official opening to the Exhibition, and the first chance for the public to view the artwork. Refreshments will be served, and a string quartet, Durham University Big Band, and others will perform throughout the evening.

Please could all guests use the South Road entrance near Josephine Butler and Ustinov college (by Howlands Park and Ride) not the main entrance behind Grey.

Family Day

Sunday 17th June, (11am – 3pm)
A Father’s Day full art activities for families with kids, situated around the gardens.

Evening Talk

Sunday 17th June, (7.30pm)
Professor Michael Tooley gives a talk on ‘Gertrude Jekyll and The Art Garden’

Film Night

Monday 18th June, (7 – 8pm)
Mary Tassell presents ‘The Herbalist’s Art’: a slide show and talk about where food and medicines cross: the kitchen pharmacy!

Monday 18th June, (9pm)
An open-air screening of Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ in the Gardens.

Open Air Theatre

19th June, (2pm) 20th June, (7pm) 21st June, (2pm and 7pm)
An outdoor production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by The Durham Shakespeare Company (see www.durhamshakespearecompany.com for information, or www.dur.ac.uk/DST for tickets, £4/£3.50 DST members)

Closing Night

Friday 22nd June (4.30 – 9pm)
Live acoustic music in the gardens to celebrate the end of the exhibition, featuring Durham University Concert Band, Maybe Myrtle Turtle, A Painted Sky and much more!

:: Posters ::

You can view our promotional posters below. Click on the poster to view the full sized version.