Culture Spark 2022 is a wonderful season of events, performances, live entertainment, exhibitions and community projects taking place across the district this summer.
The festival is inspired by important milestones reached this year by some of our most cherished attractions including 60 years at Chichester Festival Theatre, 40 years at Pallant House Gallery, 75 years of Petworth House with the National Trust, 10 years at The Novium Museum and Festival of Chichester and 200 years of the Canal Trust.
Several Culture Spark events are taking place right here in Chichester City Centre between June and September. Here’s a round-up of what you can enjoy including several FREE events:
JUNE
CARNIVAL OF LIGHTS
Priory Park, 10 June from 5pm – FREE
Join in a colourful carnival parade of beautiful handmade willow lanterns, a giant metal Whale and an epic samba band at Priory Park before journeying down North and South Street to arrive at Chichester Canal Basin. Join the party at any point on the way to the Canal where cabaret acts, lively dance and singing, storytelling and craft workshops alongside a festival of street food and refreshments will be on offer. Help make a giant conga to the samba band as the finale!
UNITED VOICES
Guildhall, Priory Park, 21 June, 1pm – 3pm & 4pm – 7pm – FREE
West Sussex Music Hub in partnership with Emily Barden, presents United Voices, a one of a kind opportunity for pupils from schools across the Chichester district to showcase their singing and come together to perform as a massed choir in beautiful and unique venues.
LOCKGATE 200: AN ARTEL EXHIBITION
Oxmarket Contemporary, 21 June – 3 July, 10am – 4.30pm – FREE
This year the Artists of Artel are creating work responding to Chichester Canal’s 200th Anniversary. Artel artists include painters, sculptures, ceramicists, textile artists, printmakers and filmmakers and each one is drawing on the canal’s history and beauty to reflect the different ways it has served and inspired the community.
FESTIVAL OF CHICHESTER – POETRY & JAZZ CAFÉ WITH GRACE NICHOLS AND JOHN AGARD
The Chichester Assembly Rooms, 23 June, 7.30pm – 10.00pm – Ticketed
Enjoy a delightful mix of words and top-class jazz as internationally acclaimed poets Grace Nichols and John Agard team up with star jazzers Julian Stringle and Dominic Ashworth to entertain and inspire.
THE ART OF CHICHESTER – 60 YEARS OF CREATIVITY
The Novium Museum, 25 June – 25 February 2023, 10am – 4.30pm – FREE
The Art of Chichester tells the story of how, in the last 60 years, a small city on the south coast has transformed itself into a place where culture now vies with nature in attracting people to live, work and play. Embracing professional and amateur work across all art forms, this headline exhibition celebrates 60 years of artistic and cultural achievement across the district.
FESTIVAL OF CHICHESTER – AS YOU LIKE IT BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Chichester Cathedral, 26 June, 7pm- 9pm – Ticketed
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men – with a history stretching back to William Shakespeare himself – invite you to join them for this sparkling comedy. Bring a chair and a picnic and prepare to be entertained and transported!
IT’S CRIMINAL: CHILD POVERTY AND DRUGS GANGS IN THE UK, WITH NICOLA GARRARD
Chichester Library, 26 June 6.30pm – 8pm – FREE
Join teacher and author, Nicola Garrard, to discuss the challenges facing young people. Includes readings from 29 LOCKS, a story of one teenager’s heroic fight against the criminal forces that threaten his mum, friends and community. Ask questions and buy signed copies of 29 LOCKS. Suitable for ages 13+
WE THE PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION – FREE
Pallant House Gallery, 27 June
Chichester Cathedral, 17June – 23 July, 10am – 5pm
Chichester Festival Theatre, 22 August – 3 September, 10am-6pm
The Novium Museum, 20 September – 1 October, 10am – 5pm
Discover the stories of the incredible volunteers in the Chichester District who so passionately support our arts, culture, heritage and local charities at a special photographic exhibition. See large scale photographic portraits of local volunteers and scan the QR codes under each photo to hear their stories brought to life in short audio and video clips.
TOGETHER WE RISE
Chichester Cathedral, 27 June to 6 August, 9am – 5pm – FREE
Together We Rise is a major exhibition of artworks from celebrated members of the Royal Society of Sculptors. It comprises over 26 artworks which will be presented within Chichester Cathedral and across its grounds. The pieces respond to the artists’ experiences of the pandemic, their resilience, sense of community and collective hope for the future.
FESTIVAL OF CHICHESTER – JESS GILLAM AND THE LONDON MOZART PLAYERS
Chichester Cathedral, 30 June, 7.30pm – 9.30pm – Ticketed
23-year-old saxophone superstar Jess Gillam joins the London Mozart Players for an evening that balances Mozart and Haydn with Marcello’s baroque thrills and Glazunov’s lyricism.
JULY
FESTIVAL OF CHICHESTER – POETRY AND MUSIC WITH ROGER MCGOUGH
Chichester Cathedral, 5 July, 7.30pm – 9.30pm – Ticketed
Enjoy a magical blend of poetry and music with legendary Liverpudlian poet Roger McGough, international pianist Elena Toponogova, actress Emily Rose Smith and South Downs poets celebrating the bicentenary of Sussex-born Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. The mix includes Roger’s much-loved poetry, music from the Romantic era and readings from Shelley.
FESTIVAL OF CHICHESTER – BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Chichester Cathedral, 7 July, 7.30pm – 9.30pm – Ticketed
Conductor Gergely Madaras and the internationally renowned Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will perform an exciting programme of masterpieces including Beethoven’s Overture to Prometheus, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 6 ‘Pathétique’ with Leonard Elschenbroich as the soloist and Elgar’s Cello Concerto.
THE ART OF CHICHESTER SUMMER ART SERIES
The Novium Museum, 27 July – 31 August, 10am – 4pm Tues and Weds – Ticketed
Summer creative art workshops at The Novium led by Article 12 Arts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10-4 throughout August to complement The Art of Chichester exhibition which will culminate in a community exhibition in The Novium from Saturday 24 September. Participants are invited to respond to the exhibition using a variety of mediums from clay to miniature art to shoeboxes and storytelling.
AUGUST
CHICHESTER FILM FESTIVAL OPEN AIR SCREENINGS
Priory Park, 5 – 7 August, 7.30pm – 11pm – Ticketed
To launch the 30th Chichester International Film Festival, three Open Air Screenings will take place, including one family friendly film in the stunning setting of Priory Park, Chichester.
CHICHESTER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
New Park Cinema, 11 – 28 August, 6.30pm-11pm – Ticketed
The Chichester International Film Festival turns 30 this year and this summer they will once again be bringing the best in cinema from the UK and abroad to the south coast of England with some special live events, silent films, guest speakers and more.
SEPTEMBER
FOLD OUR CITY
Chichester Festival Theatre, 10 September, 10am – 4pm – FREE
Create a large origami model city inspired by your local area and community. Simply turn up, make your own origami house, boat, car or local landmark. Draw, colour and decorate your landmark and be part of this evolving drawn installation.
For full Culture Spark event information visit www.thegreatsussexway.org/culture-spark-2022/