It’s the work of photographer Pam Sandhu-Dickens that appears on the cover of the Artweeks brochure this year.

Pam’s striking picture of scissors cutting through strips of colour was one of many works judged by Michael Stanley, the director of Modern Art Oxford, Hannah Chinnery from the Blackwell Bookshop events team and Scott Cridland Smith from Oxford Inspires.

Artweeks, now in its 29th year, is a three-week celebration of the county’s artistic and creative talent. All shows are free, and take place in artists’ homes, studios, or galleries throughout the county. Last year, more than 107,000 people visited almost 500 venues. Exhibits include sculpture and ceramics, furniture, mosaics, jewellery, painting, photography and textiles.

Every year a prize is awarded to help develop the career of a professional Oxfordshire artist who has taken up art as a second career later in life. This award was established in 2003 to honour the work and the commitment to Artweeks over many years of Lady [Mary] Moser. This year’s award goes to Wendy Newhofer, who makes impressive glass pieces with a glorious painterly quality. Her work emerges out of a combination of glass and metal, which when fired together create beautiful pieces. Her work will be on show at her garden studio at 82 Southmoor Road, Oxford, from May 21 to 30, and at the O3 Gallery at Oxford Castle.

Festival director Esther Browning is sure this year’s festival will be the best ever, as lots of new artists will be exhibiting. She said: “It’s so exciting to see Artweeks continuing to develop as it is.

“This year, for the first time, we have run a student competition in conjunction with the O3 Gallery to help get new talent involved.

“Their work will be on show throughout the Oxford Castle complex during May.

Esther said there were other surprises too. “We have added a series of art films to the programme and a festival of illustrations at Blackwell’s bookshop.

“The art trails that always prove so popular have been updated, too, with new trails leading to artists’ studios in Kidlington, Witney and Burford.

Most years, Oxford artist Francesca Shakespeare runs children’s workshops at the Ashmolean Museum, prior to the festival. This year is no exception. Under her guidance, schoolchildren will work in the cast gallery where they will create a 21st- century version of a classical frieze. The 3D tiles the children make will then go on display as a collective art piece throughout the festival.

Artweeks takes place in South Oxfordshire from Saturday, May 7, to May 15, and from Saturday, May 14, to Sunday, May 22, in North Oxfordshire. Artists from Oxford City will display their work from Saturday May 21 to Monday May 30. Entrance to all venues is free and brochures can be picked up in libraries, tourist offices and artists’ studios.