Art Out Loud at Chatsworth, the only UK weekend festival of public talks about art, announces its full programme for 2018, with tickets now on sale for the event which takes place from the 21-23 September.

As Chatsworth celebrates the completion of its biggest restoration and conservation project in 200 years, architecture and design feature in many of this year’s talks at the Art out Loud Festival.

Headline speakers include collage artist, punk icon and Chatsworth’s first artist-inresidence, Linder Sterling and 2017 Turner Prize-winner, Lubaina Himid, who are joined by art historian Dan Cruickshank and architect John Pawson.

Focus on Art 

Art Out Loud at Chatsworth is excited to present Lubaina Himid, who made history in 2017 as the first black woman – and the oldest artist – to win the Turner Prize. Her multidisciplinary practice exposes the politics of race and gender through wide-ranging visual mediums using found ceramics, painting and large-scale cutouts. At the festival, she will be in conversation with Dr Zoe Whitley, curator of International Art at the Tate Modern, exploring art as activism, political acts of curating and the sheer joy of art making.

Chatsworth’s first ever artist-in-residence, Linder Sterling will be joined by Lord Burlington to discuss her Chatsworth exhibition, Her Grace Land, and its unparalleled poly-sensory approach to the past, present and future.

Leading British artist Idris Khan will speak about the minimal, yet emotionally charged photographs, videos and sculptures that make up his practice, exploring the influences and creative process behind his work.

David Dawson was Lucian Freud’s model, devoted assistant, adviser and friend – and featured in seven of Freud’s paintings. He will be joined by Martin Gayford (subject of Freud’s portrait Man with a Blue Scarf) for a unique insight and examination into the life and work of Lucian Freud, and the complex relationship between artist, sitter and portrait.

In conversation with New York-based sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard, Executive Director of Yorkshire Sculpture Park Peter Murray will talk about the evolution of YSP and Ursula’s progress from minimalism to the creation of monumental works for open air.

A lively discussion and some real-life sketching is on the cards as political cartoonist Peter Brookes joins writer Ann Treneman to talk about his fascinating work and cartooning of recent political earthquakes for The Times.

The new Director of the Royal Collection, Tim Knox will shed light on his role as the keeper of The Queen’s private collection. World-renowned collector and founder of the new cultural hub Kanaal, Antwerp, Axel Vervoordt, will explain his philosophy on art and how it has inspired his diverse collection.

Felicity Aylieff and Natasha Daintry will discuss their practices as ceramicists. The very different – but equally extraordinary – results of their efforts are exemplified in pieces now part of the Chatsworth Collection and on display in the house: Chinese Ladders by Felicity Aylieff (Great Stairs Landing) and Sowing Colour by Natasha Daintry (the Dome Room)

Focus on Architecture and Design

In a year that has seen Chatsworth restored to its full glory following a 10-year renovation programme, an appreciation of architecture and design is woven through the 2018 festival.

On Saturday, in their talk Living with the Builders, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire will be joined by the specialist conservation architect who directed the works, Peter Inskip. This will be a rare opportunity to hear a discussion on their initial ambitions, reflections and what it was like to be ‘living with the builders’ – on a grand scale. They will be in conversation with Anna Farthing, curator of the current exhibition Chatsworth Renewed: the house past, present and future, which celebrates the skill and commitment of those involved in this decade of works. The exhibition continues in Chatsworth House during Art Out Loud.

John Pawson, the British architect famous for his minimalist aesthetic, will reflect on a body of work which spans a broad range of scales and typologies, explaining how, whether he is designing a bench or taking a photograph, ‘it’s all architecture’.

In a talk curated by the Royal Institute of British Architects, Alex de Rijke founding architect of dRMM, whose design for Hastings Pier won the 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize and Herefordshire-based architect Kate Darby will be discussing their practices with Marie Bak Mortensen.

After her 2016 appearance at the festival, Amanda Levete, founder of AL_A and one of the UK’s leading female architects, returns to talk about the dialogue between history and modernity in her work on two very different museums, the V&A in London and the Museum of Art, Architecture & Technology – MAAT – in Lisbon.

Two talks take a more historical view of architecture, as author Kate Hubbard and artist Ed Kluz look back to 16th century Derbyshire with Bess of Hardwick and her houses, and developer Trevor Osborne and James Berresford, Chairman of the Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust, discuss the history the Buxton Crescent, as well as plans for its future.

Seats can be booked online for the complimentary Buxton Crescent talk. Design critic Alice Rawsthorn will speak about her book Design as an Attitude, exploring how a new generation of designers and architects are using design to pursue their
humanitarian, political and ecological objectives.

Art historian Dan Cruickshank will talk about his recent journey through Syria and the BBC TV documentary he made on its architecture, history, national pride and identity. At Art Out Loud, he looks at IS’s cultural terrorism, examines the monuments damaged, and ponders the challenges – artistic, technical, ethical – of repair, reconstruction and engineering during the 1890s.

Focus on Education and Family Events

Education is always at the core of what Art Out Loud offers. This year, as part of the Devonshire Educational Trust programme, a number of spaces will be reserved for local schools, colleges and universities in five talks on Friday. These include a presentation of short talks about architecture by students from schools across the country who have
participated in the ARTiculation programme.

For families, sisters Jacky Klein and Suzy Klein present an interactive talk, named after their book What is Contemporary Art? A Guide for Children, exploring the wonderful world of contemporary art for younger festival attendees. They invite children and families to respond to, question, and enjoy some of the most exciting art of our time.

Focus on Gardens

With its setting in the enchanting grounds of Chatsworth, thoughts of gardens are never far from Art Out Loud. This year, gardening writer Anna Pavord discusses the art of ‘marshalling nature’ and ‘getting her hands dirty’, while landscape architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan talks about the challenges and rewards of gardening in the tropics.

Art Out Loud takes place in the magical setting of Chatsworth’s South Lawn. All ticket holders also enjoy access to the Chatsworth Garden. Ticket holders can optionally upgrade their ticket to gain access to Chatsworth House and Chatsworth Renewed: the house past, present and future, a special exhibition revealing the story of the Chatsworth renovation,
which runs until 21 October 2018.

Sculpture from Chatsworth will for the first time be centre-stage for the autumn exhibition in the garden. Visitors to Art Out Loud will have the chance to focus on the presence of sculpture within the wider Chatsworth landscape. By encouraging the discovery of new viewpoints across the landscape, this year Chatsworth will draw attention to the historic eyecatchers and fountains, as well as new developments, recent sculpture and planting in the garden.

All festival tickets and festival day tickets include entry to the garden from 10am – 6pm and free car parking. Tickets can be upgraded to include entry to the house at a reduced price (open from 11am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm).

Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield, has announced that Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett and X-Factor singer Rhydian Roberts will star as Cinderella and Prince Charming in the year’s magical family Pantomime, Cinderella, from Saturday 1^st December 2018 to Sunday 6^th January 2019.

Roxanne is best known for her role as Jo Stiles in ITV’s hugely successful Emmerdale. Her sensitive performance during 2010’s emotional domestic abuse storyline garnered great critical acclaim and brought the important, often unspoken of, issue to the forefront of the nation’s attention. Roxanne continues to act as an ambassador for Women’s Refuge and The Samaritans.

Roxanne has displayed her impressive versatility as a performer with appearances on popular TV shows Dancing on Ice, Soapstar Superstar and a winning performance as Gloria Estefan on Celebrity Stars in their Eyes.

Roxanne surprised audiences by playing a troubled schoolgirl in BBC’s Waterloo Road, a character who was ten years younger than the actress herself in real life. Roxanne also moved from the small screen to the big screen with several roles in movies including Devil’s Tower, Habit and Wrong Turn 6 for 20^th Century Fox.

Her extensive work in theatre has taken her all over the UK with hit touring productions of The Wedding Singer and The Vagina Monologues and she is currently the co-host of Minster FM’s Breakfast with Ben & Roxy.

Double Platinum selling recording artist Rhydian was propelled to fame as a contestant on the X-Factor in 2007 and quickly became a fan favourite due to his dynamic performances and show-stopping vocal talent. The runaway success story of the series, Rhydian was promptly signed to Simon Cowell’s record label releasing 7 albums to date and becoming the biggest selling Male Artist of 2008.

Rhydian has starred in numerous UK tours of West End musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar, Little Shop of Horrors and Grease and has duetted with some of the most respected names in the music industry including Michael Buble, Taylor Swift, Celine Dion and Idina Menzel.

Roxanne and Rhydian will be reunited in this year’s production of Cinderella having performed together in the 40^th Anniversary Tour of The Rocky Horror Show in 2014.

Paul Holman, Pantomime Producer, said:-

“Roxanne and Rhydian are fantastic performers. With Roxanne as everyone’s favourite Princess, Cinderella, and Rhydian as her equally charming Prince, they are sure to enchant our audiences and their stunning vocal talents combined will leave them spellbound.”

With the announcement of Roxanne and Rhydian as the headline stars of Cinderella and featuring all of the traditional elements of pantomime combined with dazzling scenery and costumes, bucket loads of laughter and more than a sprinkle of magic, this year’s production promises to be more spectacular than ever.

Cinderella runs at Pomegranate Theatre from Saturday 1^st December 2018 to Sunday 6^th January 2019. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked online at http://www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/ or via the Box Office on 01246 345 222.

Traditional rural skills like falconry and dry-stone walling are being taught in hands-on sessions at the Chatsworth Farmyard this spring half term (26 May-3 June) as well as the chance for budding young farmers to muck-in and help care for farmyard animals including horses, pigs and sheep on select days.

Dry stone walling, fly fishing, wool weaving and spinning, falconry and a host of other rural skills (see below for dates) are being taught by seasoned experts to show children and families the centuries old skills still used in rural communities.

Visitors can get ‘hands on’ and build a mini dry stone wall as well as learning about their history from Sally Hodgson who has nearly 30 years experience of dry stone walling and is committed to retaining the heritage of the beautiful Derbyshire landscape.

SMJ Falconry are family-operated bird of prey specialists and will be displaying birds of all sizes as well as giving a flying display. Meanwhile Stuart Crofts will be making fishing flies to imitate the natural food that trout feed on and children will be able to make their own flies in the farmyard.

And any budding young farmers, aged between 6-11, will be able to join the farmyard team for some hands-on involvement in caring for the Chatsworth farmyard animals.

Meanwhile, in its famous 105-acre garden, Chatsworth will be celebrating its fabulous waterworks. Free garden tours will take in water features including the 18th century Cascade, Willow Tree Fountain, Ring Pond and Emperor Fountain, which will be played at its full height of 90 metres.

Spring half-term

Saturday and Sunday 26 & 27 May, Sally Hodgson’s dry stone walling: build your own dry stone wall and hear about the history of these iconic feature of the Derbyshire landscape.

Monday 28 May, SMJ falconry: get up close and personal with more than a dozen magnificent birds of prey.

Tuesday 29 May, Stuart Crofts river creatures: Get close up to the many fascinating creatures found in the river Derwent.

Tuesday 29 May, Margaret Robson, wool spinner: Learn about the process of turning fleece to wool by spinning and weaving.

Wednesday 30 May, Stuart Crofts fly tying workshop: make fishing flies to imitate the natural food that trout feeding on.

Thursday 31 May, Margaret Robson, wool spinner: Learn about the process of turning fleece to wool by spinning and weaving.

Friday 1 June, Bobbie Harvey, Willow & wool workshop: Use simple weaving techniques to make willow and wool “god’s eyes” decorations.

Various dates from 30 May-22 August, join the farmyard team in caring for the farmyard animals.

Chatsworth reopened on 24 March 2018 following the biggest restoration and conservation of the house, garden and park since the 1820s. The 10-year long programme, costing more than £32m, sees Chatsworth restored to its full glory, inside and out.

The Chatsworth Renewed exhibition, running between March and October, highlights the work of those involved in the restoration process. From rebuilding the Belvedere turrets to replacing vast tracts of lead on the roof; carving the tiniest details in stone using dentistry tools to replacing huge blocks in the walls; careful restoration of priceless artworks to the renovation of famous water features in the garden; over the last decade Chatsworth has been fully restored and made ready for the next century.

In 1981, the charitable Chatsworth House Trust was set up by the 11th Duke to ensure the long-term survival of the house and collection. Since 1949 the entrance money paid by more than 25 million visitors has made a vital contribution to the maintenance of the house and garden and it is this income, rather than any public funding, that has enabled the current restoration works to be completed.

Ashgate Hospicecare are pleased to announce that X factor star and winner of Dancing on Ice 2018, Jake Quickenden, will be the celebrity guest at this year’s Markovitz Sparkle Night Walk which will take place on July 7^th.

The singer and reality TV star will be showing his support for the local hospice by performing on stage at the event to get the thousands of walkers warmed up and ready for the 10k walk ahead, which starts and finishes at the Proact Stadium in Chesterfield.

Coming from a semi-professional footballing background, 29 year old Jake was a contestant on The X Factor in 2012, where he made it through to the judge’s houses, and again in 2014 when he got through to the live shows. Later in 2014, Jake entered the jungle on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! where he was a runner up. In 2018, he was the winner of Dancing on Ice where he was partnered with professional German figure skater Vanessa Bauer.

Jake said:-

“It’s such a privilege to support Ashgate Hospicecare. I lost both my dad and brother to cancer and can say that it makes such a difference to the lives of families to know that the people they love most in the world are being well looked after throughout such a horrible illness.

“I can’t wait to be part of Sparkle this year and I hope you all have a fantastic time and raise loads of money for such a worthy cause!”

This is Ashgate Hospicecare’s 4^th Sparkle Night Walk since it was rebranded from the Midnight Walk. Last year, over 2,500 walkers with their pink t-shirts and flashing bunny ears walked together and raised an incredible £202,500 in sponsorships, which all helped towards providing hospice care to patients with a life-limiting illness and their families throughout North Derbyshire. This year, the Hospice are expecting over 3,000 walkers to sign up.

Jack Wood, Events, Lottery and Digital Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare, said:-

“We’re incredibly excited to have Jake Quickenden on board and supporting the Sparkle Night Walk this year, especially considering Jake’s personal experience of cancer in his family, something that we understand very well here at the Hospice. We can’t wait to have him there, cheering us all on on the night.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life Chesterfield is returning to town to raise vital funds.

This year’s event will set off from Queen’s Park at 10.30am on Sunday 3 June and follow a different route to previous years, which it is hoped will also reduce disruption to motorists.

Participants will complete a double lap of Queen’s Park and Boythorpe Avenue as part of a 5km route instead of going through the town centre.

As a result there will only be road closures on Boythorpe Avenue and Park Road – between Boythorpe Avenue and the exit from the Ravenside Retail Park in Markham Road – from early morning until early afternoon.

To enable the event to run smoothly Chesterfield Borough Council will also temporarily close the Queen’s Park North and Albion Road car parks. The other town centre car parks at Rose Hill, Soresby Street, Holywell Cross (Donut) and Ashgate Road will remain open as normal.

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy said: “We are pleased to support Chesterfield’s Race for Life event each year because it is such a good cause.

“All of us will have been touched by cancer at some time in our lives either through having the disease or knowing someone who has.

“The revised route this year will hopefully keep any disruption in to a minimum and roads and car parks will reopen as soon as possible after the race has finished.

“We hope that as many people as possible will either take part in the race or come down to watch it as a spectator.”

Summer Nights Outdoor Film Festival is back for an eighth year at thirteen fabulous locations across the UK. Presented by QUAD on an inflatable twelve metre screen, Summer Nights Festival screenings offer the chance to enjoy the great outdoors for a unique cinematic experience.

This year the festival will be back at Hardwick Hall for screenings of The Greatest Showman (PG) and Dirty Dancing (12A).

Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron star in The Greatest Showman, the musical re-telling of P.T. Barnum’s creation of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. After Barnum (Hugh Jackman) loses his job as a clerk, he takes out a bank loan to enter the amusement industry, eventually opening Barnum’s Circus. After being berated for simply running a ‘freak show’, Barnum hires a young playwright (Zac Efron) in order to appeal to a more highbrow audience. Featuring all the dazzling spectacle of the circus itself, the film proved to be an unexpected box office sensation with the song ‘This is Me’ going on to become a Golden Globe winner.

In Dirty Dancing drama, music and romance are the order of the day for Frances “Baby” Houseman as she spends summer in a holiday camp and falls in love with dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze).

Hardwick Hall will be screening The Greatest Showman on Friday 17^th August, Dirty Dancing on Saturday 18^th August.

QUAD is Derby’s centre for art and film, a mixed arts venue based on the Market Place. The centre has been at the heart of Derby’s cultural scene since it opened in September in 2008, and is internationally recognised for providing quality and excellence in the Arts.

QUAD delivers an exciting, innovative and diverse programme which is popular with visitors of all ages, with a reputation in Photography, digital innovation & family friendly events. The venue organises Derby Film Festival, FORMAT International Photography Festival and Summer Nights Outdoor Film Festival.