In brilliant sunshine – what else did you expect? – nearly two hundred people took part in the launch of ArtBeat at 5 o’clock on Friday afternoon. Troubadours converged on the car park at Christchurch, Clarendon Park Road, and brilliantly led by the musicians the gathering throng sang the festival song ArtBeat to the tune of the Buddy Holly classic Heartbeat.
As they arrived people were given balloons and copies of the Festival Quiz copies of which will be made available throughout the week. There were tasty refreshments too provided by New Delhi, the Tiny Bakery and Costa.
After some introductory words of welcome from Festival chair Sue King, there was an interview with Richard III – no stranger to car parks – who said he had always been a great supporter of the enterprise and energy of local community arts.
There then followed some excellent a capella singing from The Simpletones – they really gave it some wellie. By this time the crowd was in joyful mood and greatly appreciated a tableau of children dressed in Victorian costume, reflecting the period wheh the neighbourhood was built. Each had adopted a street name and had a limerick read out about them. You had to be there and it really worked well.
There was some energetic Morris dancing by Black Annis and then the launch culminated in some well-chosen words by City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby. He said that he had lived in Lorne Road and Howard Road when he first came to Leicester. He considered ArtBeat to be a good illustration of why Leicester was already a city of culture. He then read a celebratory ode that had been especially written for the occasion by local resident to launch the festival – printed below.
People then drifted off in high spirits looking forward to nine days of arts events and activities. First up was Voices United at Christchurch to which 150 people turned out. What a celebration of singing of different kinds it was from a number of local choirs!
We hope to see you around at the various venues over the next week. Look at the programme on this site to find out more about what’s on. You’ll be sure to find something to enjoy.
This week-end of course is Art House where local artists exhibit their works in people’s houses in the area. this is always well supported and we expect that this year will be no different.
Now for that
CELEBRATORY ODE FROM QUEENS ROAD
Leaving the takeaway with your tandoori chicken
It’s hard not to feel the pulses quicken,
As you walk through the strip on a Friday night
And sense the week-end’s gonna be all right.
The roar from the Clarrie as City score
The stately passage of the 44.
And in the week the shouts of greeting
Gossip swapped at each chance meeting.
Students, seniors, families, dogs
Sandals, boots, stilettoes, clogs.
Early mornings in the streets around
There’s altogether a more muted sound;
Birdsong, milk float, car doors closing
Indoors, in bed, people dozing.
The burnished red of bricks sun-kissed
The tops of spires encased in mist.
You heard it first, you heard it here
ArtBeat, Art House, Summer Fair.
Ten days’ creative juices flowing
Friends performing, neighbours showing.
Diverse hearts will beat as one
I wish you all success and fun!
Bryan Merton