News

Our #sayitin60seconds winners are announced

We were delighted to receive so many entries and after much consideration, our judging panel; Dr Michelle Castelleti (OFA Director), Paul Max Edlin (Composer) and Brendan Ball (Trumpeter) have chosen their winners: Congratulations to Darren Fellows, Richard Montgomery, Dan Jenkins, Carl Borg and Richard Peat. Student composer Jacob Lewis was awarded a Special Commendation. All the scores will be performed by virtuoso trumpeter Brendan Ball and professionally filmed to be broadcast on social media. [All Read more…

By Michelle Castelletti, ago

OFA 2020 is postponed and #OFAvirtual is on the way

As promised, we are getting back to you regarding OFA 2020. In the current circumstances, the most responsible thing to do is to postpone this year’s event. However, we will time-shift this exuberant celebration inspired by the Field of Cloth of Gold to 2021. It’s a case of delayed gratification! You can expect all the wonderful performances, events and experiences we had planned for this year, you just have to wait a bit longer to Read more…

By Michelle Castelletti, ago
Tudor Travel Guide poster for the Field of Cloth of Gold virtual summit 2020

‘The Field of Cloth of Gold: 500’ a FREE virtual two-day summit

Over 18 blustery days in June 1520, an historic event took place in the Pale of Calais. Here, King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France met in an ostentatious display of power, wealth and status. Masterminded by Thomas Wolsey, the aim was to join the two kingdoms in a pact of solidarity and friendship, notably against the insurgence of the Ottoman Empire, that was threatening Christian Europe. It was a spectacular Read more…

By Michelle Castelletti, ago
A hand woven weavescape in golds, red and green

And the winner is …

In November 2019 we launched an exciting competition with our friends at OX Magazine to invite entries for the cover design of our festival brochure for 2020. We offered suggestions to aid creativity; this year’s festival inspiration The Field of Cloth of Gold; a colour palette based on illuminated manuscripts including gold, and the themes of royalty, splendour, fraternity and friendship. The results are in and our winner is Oxford artist and weaver Julia Engelhardt. Read more…

By Michelle Castelletti, ago

An update on #OFA2020

A message from the Director of the Oxford Festival of the Arts What are the Arts if not a way of speaking, of reacting, of setting trends, and of communicating?  Few things are more beautiful and intense than making music or sharing musical experiences together, than the exhilaration and emotion on stage and in the public just after the curtains close, the wonderful camaraderie of a community project, the sense of enrichment after an exciting, Read more…

By Michelle Castelletti, ago

Oxford Festival of the Arts announces digital media partnership

Here at Oxford Festival of the Arts we are delighted to announce that we have chosen Ox In A Box – Oxfordshire’s newest arts, entertainment and food website as our Official Digital Media Partner for the 2020 Oxford Festival of The Arts. Dr Michelle Castelletti, Festival Director said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with Katherine and Sarah from Ox In A Box. They are such an exciting company! We fed off Read more…

By Michelle Castelletti, ago

We are seeking papers for Tallis 2020

Academic Symposium & Concert June 19 and 20 2020 To celebrate the history and 450th anniversary of Thomas Tallis’ 40-part motet Spem in alium, Oxford Festival of the Arts in collaboration ORA Singers, is putting on a two-day interdisciplinary symposium at the Magdalen College Grove Auditorium on 19 & 20 June 2020. We invite you to join us on a journey into the mysteries that lie behind Spem in alium and its contemporary reflection, Sir Read more…

By Michelle Castelletti, ago

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