2011 Major commission... Raymond Yiu

Exciting news, Raymond Yiu is confirmed as this year's Whitley Arts Festival major commission - creating a world premiere choral piece for St Mary's project - Friday 14th October

REFF

One night of eclectic film including a specially created programme from Mike Sperlinger (LUX) Also featuring newly commissioned music to film from Jessica Curry

We Need To Thank...

A number of local charities and organisations have supported this year's festival financially. We would like to thank Hogarth Productions, the Earley Charity, The Cultural Partnership, Reading Festival Society, Reading Borough Council and Aspire2

WHAT THE BUTLER SAW...

Music from Amy's Ghost, Edd Keene, Pet Cat, Martin Creed, as well as poetry, performance art and installation from Michael 'Gulliver' Gulmark, Maria Deegan and Ed Quick. 22nd October

EVENTS IN WHITLEY

As always the festival provides loads of activities in Whitley for people to enjoy - and nearly all of them are free! From Fire demos, to arts and crafts workshops, music and art opportunities. Click here for more information.

RAYMOND YIU - MARTIN CREED - MARK AERIAL WALLER

13th - 30th OCTOBER 2011 - READING, UK

THIS YEARS FESTIVAL will deliver world premiere work in all our major strands, including classical music, sculpture, photography, projection soundscape and film. The festival continues to bring excellence to Reading and give the town the opportunity to be first to witness the work we commission and exhibit.

AS ALWAYS WITH WAF, we strive to find unique ways make the festival a part of Reading whilst maintaining our growing national appeal. In The Whitley Arts Trail, Turner Prize winner Martin Creed exhibits his work in a residents house as Curator Jo Thomas asks: What infiltrates the ordinary to become extraordinary?

MARK AERIAL WALLER, will also be exhibiting work in peoples living rooms as individual households get to live with a piece of art in the run up of the Whitley Art Trail. Appearing alongside Martin Creed and Mark Aerial Waller , Ann Rapstoff, T.R.I.P.O.D. and Steve McPhereson. See What's On for more details

OUR MAJOR COMMISSION this year, by award-winning composer Raymond Yiu, sees the festival broaden into classical music for the first time, as his new choral work forms the centrepiece of the innovative St Mary's Project, an exhibition that features a series of interactive elements offering new perspectives to the audience, including soundscape, projection, sculpture and music.

ST MARY'S PROJECT also features a topical new work in which portraits of Reading residents are projected onto the exterior of the tower whilst their whispered aspirations play inside the church. In the current climate, where communities are finding ways of 'speaking out' we ask who is listening...

Images of the festival

See the latest images of the Whitley Arts Festival here

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GALLERY3

Gallery3 features the cream of Reading's artists in its mobile exhibition space. Jon Lockhart. Philip Newcombe. Anne Wilson. 3artists, create 3pieces each, in 3locations, for 3days at a time...

TALL AND STRANGE

Through the summer, Tall and Strange, the lost sisters have been looking for a home. They find it this year at Shine. See them roaming the streets in the build up to WAF, and appearing in Shine at the end of the festival.

SHINE

A showcase of Reading talent. 30th October. With a range of performers from first timers to old hands. Including street dance, MC's bands, solo singers and giant puppets...

CHANTS

Once again, the Whitley Arts Festival is working with Chants an organisation that helps young people get into music. They will be providing a 45 minute set in Shine.