A tiny Norfolk village is to come under the spotlight as cohorts of local artists, painters and sculptors take part in one of the county's largest contemporary arts festival.

A tiny Norfolk village is to come under the spotlight as cohorts of local artists, painters and sculptors take part in one of the county's largest contemporary arts festival.

Welborne, a tiny community tucked away in the heart of rural Norfolk, is to see its population swell tenfold over the weekend when over 1,000 visitors and 50 artists are to revel in a variety of high-class activities ranging from top quality visual art, music, literature and performance to archive show films and flower arrangements.

The festival with its theme 'Skies Above and Earth Below' will be held in and around the 11th century All Saints Church in the village.

New Zealander Juliet Arnott will be the event's artist in residence, exhibiting her latest hazel sculptures in the churchyard. Her work will be complemented by other artists' life size sculptures. Sussex-based theatre Rotto productions will be presenting the festival's first puppet show - My Tree - a contemporary fairy story for families. There will also be readings from local novelists, while award-winning poet Daljit Nagra will also be the festival's special literary guest.

“We are expecting around 1,000 people to attend the events at Welborne,” said Mike Webb, the festival's organiser.

“Since we first organised a touring art exhibition in the village seven years ago, the festival has grown from strength to strength. “Last year we had around 900 people, but now we're expecting well over 1,000 visitors.”

Mr Webb said Welborne was a small community with no more than 150 residents who enjoy taking part in the activities and making their own contribution to the special days.

“Around 100 people in the village will be helping out with car parking or stewarding. We very much like to think this is a community event which brings us together.

“Half of our purpose is also to encourage local talent and to bring different types of art to people who normally don't have the opportunity to come across in their daily lives,” Mr Webb, who lives in Welborne said.

The East Anglian Traditional Music Trust will also be give talks and demonstrations and the Dereham Band is expected to perform at a special concert in All Saints Church.

Sheringham Town Crier, Tony Nelson, will be the event's key attraction as he returns for the second year. In its seventh year, the action-packed festival will be held over two days starting Saturday, 16th June between 10.30am and 4.30pm. Daytime admission is £2.50, children under 16 free. The festival programme can be seen on www.welborne.org.uk or contact the festival office for further information on 01362 850327.

Programme of events

Saturday 16 June 2007

10.30 a.m. Festival opens

11.15 a.m. Annette Rolston and Mike Fenton demo(InPrint marquee)

11.30 a.m. Tessa West reading and book sales(Literature marquee)

11.30 a.m. Beth Webb writing workshop (Performance marquee)

11.45 a.m. Windmill handbell ringers (Church)

12.15 p.m. Annette Rolston and Mike Fenton demo (InPrint marquee)

12.30 p.m. Puppet workshop (Performance marquee)

12.45 p.m. Simon Hallett - singer (Outside church)

(inside church if wet)

1.00 p.m. 'Earth' printing workshop for children - inspired by Aboriginal art -

with Victoria LangleyActivities marquee

2.00 p.m. Simon Scarrow reading and book sales (Literature marquee)

2.00 p.m. Tessa West writing workshop (Performance marquee)

2.00 p.m. Strummer - singer (Outside church)

(inside church if wet)

2.15 p.m. InPrint group poetry reading (InPrint marquee)

2.45 p.m. Tina Wegg - singer (In the church)

3.00 p.m. Beth Webb reading and book sales (Literature marquee)

3.00 p.m. My Tree puppet show (Performance marquee)

3.15 p.m. InPrint box making (InPrint marquee)

3.30 p.m. Schools performanceRectory Meadow

(inside church if wet)

4.30 p.m. Festival closes

Also, throughout the day

Neal French sculpture demonstration

Hazel weaving with Juliet Arnott

Foolhardy Folk clowns (from 11.30 a.m.)

Archive film in the church (loops every 20 minutes)

Make your own 'skies above and earth below' in the Activities marquee

Borrow books from Dereham library

Programme of events

Sunday 17 June 2007

10.30 a.m. Festival opens

11.15 a.m. Annette Rolston and Mike Fenton demo(InPrint marquee)

11.30 a.m. Beth Webb reading and book sales(Literature marquee)

11.30 a.m. Tessa West writing workshop (Performance marquee)

11.45 a.m. East Anglian Traditional Music Trust (Outside church)

(inside church if wet)

12.15 p.m. Annette Rolston and Mike Fenton demo (InPrint marquee)

12.30 p.m. Daljit Nagra reading and book sales (Literature marquee)

12.30 p.m. Puppet workshop (Performance marquee)

12.45 p.m. East Anglian Traditional Music Trust (Outside church)

(inside church if wet)

2.00 p.m. Sarah Bower reading and book sales (Literature marquee)

2.00 p.m. Beth Webb writing workshop (Performance marquee

2.00 p.m. East Anglian Traditional Music Trust (Outside church)

(inside church if wet)

2.15 p.m. InPrint group poetry reading (InPrint marquee)

2.30 p.m. 'Sky' weaving workshop for children

with Victoria LangleyActivities marquee

2.30 p.m. Clowning workshop (Outside)

(Activities marquee if wet)

2.45 p.m. East Anglian Traditional Music Trust (Outside church)

(inside church if wet)

3.00 p.m. My Tree puppet show (Performance marquee)

3.00 p.m. Tessa West reading and book sales (Literature marquee)

3.15 p.m. InPrint box makingInPrint marquee

3.30 p.m. East Anglian Traditional Music Trust (Outside church)

(inside church if wet)

4.00 p.m. Festival finale circusOutside (in Performance marquee if wet)

4.30 p.m. Festival closes

Also, throughout the day

Berni Marfleet and his metal sculptures

Hazel weaving with Juliet Arnott

Foolhardy Folk Clowns (from 11.30 a.m.)

Archive film in the church (loops every 20 minutes)

Make your own 'skies above and earth below' in the Activities marquee

Borrow books from Dereham library