A festival of art, crafts and music will take place in Branscombe from Wednesday, September 28 until Sunday, October 2 - with international artist David Shrigley OBE as one of the organisers.

It will be the first festival in Branscombe since the Covid pandemic hit, and was the idea of Father Steven Martin, the vicar at Holyford Mission. 

The festival will centre around St Winifred’s Church, where there will be an opening reception and preview of the art exhibition from 6pm until 8pm. There is a suggested donation of £5. 

The exhibition and sale of art will then be open each day from 10am until 5pm, with light refreshments available. There will also be an installation of papier mache sculpture, made during a workshop at a local school. The workshop was led by Coco Hodgkinson, a local artist and trustee of both Sidmouth School of Art and Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub. 

On Thursday 29 at 2pm David Shrigley, who lives in Branscombe, will give a talk in the church, Creativity and Joy, about his own work and his involvement in Sidmouth School of Art. Admission to the talk is £5. 

On Friday 30 Barbara Farquharson of the Branscombe Project will give a talk, The Art of Storytelling, at 7pm. 

On Saturday, October 1, there will be a craft fair in the Branoc Hall, and in the evening there will be a music concert in the church. Kate Walker, Andrew Daldorph and Chris Gradwell will perform a mixed programme including classical music, jazz, songs by Noel Coward and Gershwin, and new compositions by Andrew Daldorph. Admission to the concert is £10. 

On Sunday, October 2 Choral Evensong with Exeter Cathedral Choir will bring the festival to an end. 

David Shrigley said: “This festival is an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the creativity of local artists and crafts people.  I am delighted to be on the organising committee. 

“Having lived in the village for nine years it is an opportunity to connect with local creative people and provide an opportunity for all to celebrate local art and music following the hard years of the pandemic.”