About 60 people contributed to a successful champagne launch of this year's Swaffham Visual Arts festival.

The festival, which will encompass film, painting, photography, architecture and textiles over the next month, kicked off with a reception and a screening of Woody Allen's comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona last Friday.

Festival publicist Denis Bishop said: 'It was very successful. There were a good number of people there, about 60 people at the reception. The film seemed to be well received.

'The festival was supported by Tony Abel who gave a short address and confirmed his support for what the rotary club is doing in Swaffham.'

The festival will continue with a talk on Architecture – Today and Tomorrow on Thursday October 4, and an evening examining how the National Trust conserves its art on Thursday October 11.

Mr Bishop said: 'We live in a period where we are surrounded by buildings and it makes a big difference to our lives, how buildings are presented to us and [the talk] will look at how the built environment in Breckland has played a part in that process.

'Then [local architect] Chris Parsons will present his version of the way homes will look and feel and be constructed in the future.'

Tickets for each event are available at Ceres Bookshop, London Street, Swaffham, from local Rotarians or 01760 721115. Follow @swaffvisarts on Twitter or see the festival website www.swaffhamvisualartsfestival.co.uk