Octagon Theatre shows support for Somerset Art Weeks

South Somerset District Council’s Arts & Entertainment Service based at The Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue are proud to be exhibiting The Banners of Chard as part of Somerset Art Weeks 2022.

The exhibition showcases five highly detailed banners, the culmination of 40 workshops with a wide range of Chard residents. A truly collaborative process from start to finish, every single element featured on the Banners has been created by the workshop participants with lead artist Jenny Mellings.

Groups involved included: The Watch Group, Holyrood Academy, Chard Museum, Manor Court Primary School, Families, Local Businesses, Volunteer Embroiderers and the Cultivate Project.

A celebratory unveiling took place as part of the Culturally Chard Spring Festival at Chard Guildhall in April 2022, with the banners now taking a tour around the county to celebrate Chard – people and place.

The Banners of Chard have been designed for the Guildhall in Chard where they will ultimately be displayed. The Octagon Theatre is delighted to be able to showcase the banners here in Yeovil and celebrate the history and local knowledge that has gone into the creation of each one.

The exhibition is also included as part of the Somerset Art Weeks festival, with the Octagon Theatre listed as venue no. 2 in the Somerset Art Works brochure. This year the Somerset Art Weeks festival returns with the theme of ‘Sanctuary’ with venues across Somerset hosting exhibitions from Somerset Art Works Members, invited artists, and supported projects.

The festival runs across the length and breadth of Somerset from 24 September to 9 October. https://somersetartworks.org.uk/.

Somerset Art Weeks provides an important space for Somerset Art Works members to collaborate, connect and create something different to surprise and delight visitors.