York Muenster Visual Arts Festival

"We're not a twinning project - our aims are primarily artistic - though we're happy to acknowledge the twinning between York and Muenster in Germany and its golden anniversary in 2007, " says festival co-ordinator Graham Martin.

"Our aims are maybe bigger than the normal liaisons. We want to allow artists, whatever their expertise, to express themselves in their home city, because artists are often denied such exposure, and that is not only the case in York.

We found that was also the situation in Muenster."

In planning for 15 months, the festival will run in York from August 3 to 10 in the Guildhall and on the streets of York, with funding from Arts Council England, City of York Council and Stadt Muenster.

"Our aims are to develop and showcase professional art practice and to engage with audiences by providing opportunities to see art in new ways, " says Graham.

The Guildhall has been offered to the festival organisers for free by the city council and will be the base for the project and its 22 artists. Some will be engaged in studio-based work, others in "interventions" work on the sites and streets of York.

The Guildhall will be transformed into an artists' studio and exhibition space, and alongside the artists and artwork will be exhibitions, video work, special events and talks, an art multiples shop and a small café.

The festival will be showcasing artists with different skills and history, from recent graduates to established and international names. "The selection had to take into account our aims and objectives; age and the balance of men and women; an interesting mix of art practices and media; a range of different levels of experience; and artists we thought would work well together, " Graham. "We've also chosen artists who we believe will benefit from involvement in the festival."

In the Guildhall will be studio space for 12 artists to create work on site. "Ten will be 'Hub' artists with us for the entire festival, five from Muenster and five from York, " says Graham. From Germany come Ruppe Kosselleck, interventions; European Land Art Prize winner Kirsten Kaiser, interventions; Klaus Tersching, whose installation in three places will unfolds over a week; and Uli Grohmann, whose art postcards combine York and Muenster sites.

From York, so far confirmed are Shelley Clarkson, digital projection, and Kate Sleight.

Studio space will be given to two guest artists from outside York, including Karen Babayan from Leeds. In addition, Richard Gray, from Halifax, will present his drawing robots.

Three established York artists each will be showing six to eight works in the Guidhall. Printmaker Chris Brace has been selected, along with artist Jake Attree, known for his studies of York Minster, and Jane Kennelly, who specialises in artist's books and printmaking. MODE design studio's artist designers will be participating too.

The Guildhall will be open to the public most of the time during the festival to see the exhibitions and video work, attend special events and have a cup of coffee.

The exact programme and projects will be announced later.

"However, activities will range from painting to 'the artists plan to take over BP'; from video and digital work to red carpets and moving-brick sculptures, " says Graham.

Artists will receive expenses and money for materials and have the opportunity to participate in a show of festival work in Muenster in November 2007.

"We've already chosen or are in discussion with most of the artists, but if any York artists want to organise their own show during the festival time, we're happy to advertise this as a fringe event in our programme, if enough notice is given, " says Graham. "Likewise, York video makers are invited to submit short works for showing on a monitor in the Guildhall."

Those interested should drop a disc of their work, contact details and artist's statement into the ArtSpace gallery, in Tower Street, by May 31.

An associate artist hub with six York artists will be doing special events. These include Linda Foo's food performance; Jethro Bagust, new music on a bike; John Oxley's video works; Peter Baker's brick sculpture; and Simon Morris, reading as art. The ubiquitous Milladdio will be contributing a joint portrait of the mayors of York and Muenster.

"This festival will raise the bar for art and art events in York, " says Graham. "It will showcase the artistic jewels that York has. Some of the artists, like Chris Brace, don't usually show their work, and it's true to say they're the hidden gems of York.

"You could describe the festival as an arts bonanza, because that's what it is."

* Graham Martin is holding an exhibition, entitled The Map Room, at Dean Clough, Halifax, until April 24.

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm daily; admission free.