Oxford Festival of the Arts launched on Friday with the opening of the glorious rose garden and grounds at Magdalen College School, followed by a performance by the Julian Joseph Trio, described as one of Duke Ellington’s ‘natural-born heirs’.

Events over the weekend drew hundreds of people but particularly to the thundering roars of Mugenkyo Taiko Drumming.

An Evening with Fran Lebowitz, whose sardonic social commentary on American life has proved a huge hit on her Netflix documentary Pretend It's A City, was the festival's first-ever collaboration with New Theatre.

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Saturday saw several different communities come together fusing arts, cultures, foods, music for Refugee Week 2022, in collaboration with Asylum Welcome.

The day finished with the festival’s guest, Maya Youssef – a Syrian musician and composer based in the UK who plays the qanun and has performed on the BBC Proms and WOMAD. 

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More niche events are taking place around the city, and you could feel the buzz at the Weston Library and the excitement at the end of the day of the sold-out The Art of Illumination: Makers and Users of Medieval Manuscripts workshop with Patricia Lovett MBE, calligrapher and illuminator.

Director of Oxford Festival of the Arts Michelle Castelletti said: "These last two days saw more intimate events with speakers including eminent historian Robert Bartlett, Beatles biographer Hunter Davies, and crime novelist, Sharon Bolton – this last was quite a cracking conversation with Master of MCS, herself also an author, Helen Pike."

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Following this, the festival marquee became the exhibition space for mosaic artist Becky Paton, with several of her works, including a portrait of Anne Lister, an English diarist, famous for revelations for which she was dubbed "the first modern lesbian".

This linked to the evening talk between director and playwright Sally Wainwright, creator of the TV drama Gentleman Jack which has made Lister a global icon, and David Isaac CBE, provost of Worcester College, sparking off some exciting questions from the audience.

Coming next during the festival, which runs until July 25, world-renowned tenor Joseph Calleja will be in recital together with collaborative pianist Simon Lepper on July 7 at the Sheldonian Theatre.

And actor Juliet Stevenson will be with Tenebrae Choir at SJE Arts on July 6. 

In collaboration with Jericho Comedy, a comedy night features Phil Wang, Rosie Jones and Olga Koch on July 4, and who would not want to listen to Brian Blessed’s voice booming in the festival marquee in only two days’ time on Friday July 1.

Ms Castelletti said: "More wonderful things include the spectacular Music for the Royal Fireworks with The Academy of Ancient Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama on July 2, and our very own Oxford-based very much-loved art historian, presenter, author and honorary patron of the festival, Janina Ramirez, will be in conversation with Peter Frankopan on July 5 in the Festival Marquee, discussing remarkable women written out of history. 

"This is quite a night for Oxford historians!"

On June 30, golden tickets to have your photo taken by RANKIN – one of the world’s greatest photographers - are up for grabs.  

Rankin joins this year’s festival in a talk exploring photography, his process and brand ethos, “we want to change the world”.

He has had his finger on the pulse of culture for over 30 years from starting Dazed and Confused magazine to running RANKIN agency and Hunger Magazine today.

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There will be the Treasures of New College on display and a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party with The Story Museum and Fairtrade on Broad Street for Alice Day.

An evening with one of the most astonishing pianists, Harry The Piano, taking any requests from the audience, on July 3, will showcase the breathtaking creativity that has earned him a reputation as one of the most gifted improvising pianists in the world.

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And there are performances by sensational African cellist Abel Selaocoe together with Manchester Collective and African Chesaba on July 4 together with SJE Arts.

The double-bill by MCS students at Oxford Playhouse includes their Bob Chilcott commission, a contemporary hero of British choral music, with over 300 children from local schools taking part.

Other highlights will include FilmFest with Ultimate Picture Palace, Dance in the City with Dancin’ Oxford and the iconic Madrigals on the River with madrigals and folk songs from different periods of history interspersed with some instrumental items performed from punts on the river on Friday July 8.

The final speaker, on July 8, will be former PM the Rt Hon Theresa May MP. Tickets for this must be bought by June 30.

Meanwhile GAIA, the huge artwork of the Earth by Luke Jerram at University Chuch of St Mary the Virgin, continues to attract lots of attention and prod conversation.

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Ms Castelletti said: “It has been just great to have that vibe back. To have the festival in real life is just wonderful.”

 

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