Summer Arts Festival 2024

April 30, 2024

ISLAND Arts Centre is delighted to announce the return of it’s renowned Summer Arts Festival for children and young people throughout July and August 2024. This year’s festival will continue to build on the celebration of Sam McBratney’s worldwide best-selling picture book, ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ that has been a huge feature for the City of Lisburn in recent years.

Sam McBratney was a children’s author from Lisburn and ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ has sold more than 57 million copies worldwide. It is a beautiful piece of children’s literature, complimented by the wonderful illustrations of the talented Anita Jeram and we are delighted that this book will shed light on many different art forms for children and young people to enjoy at ISLAND Arts Centre this summer.

Tickets are on sale now - please click here to book.

Commencing on Mon 29 July, the festival features three individual Arts Weeks, family workshop experiences, one off workshops for teens working with the artist who created the spectacular spray art images from the book in Haslem’s Lane as well as other unique activities. Nutbrown Hare has been popping up all over Lisburn recently in different art forms, so there is lots to explore on each artistic journey for every child and young person!

Chair of Communities and Wellbeing for Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Thomas Beckett has welcomed the festival once again - “The Guess How Much I Love You Summer Arts Festival is the perfect homage to such a talented local writer and is the perfect opportunity to inspire many young people to practice some creativity.”

“Similar to the ‘Guess How Much I Love You book’, the festival is dedicated to children and their natural curiosity – it’s something that we must ensure we focus on, especially during the summer months when it can be challenging to keep entertained, given what the weather can sometimes be up to!”

“We welcome all young people aged 4 -16 years old to join us at ISLAND Arts Centre where they will work together with some of the best professional artists this country has to offer, encouraging the young people to explore new creative avenues and best of all, develop confidence and make new friends at the festival where no two days are the same!”

Activities will include: Pottery, Circus Skills, Junk Art, Design, Film, Streetart, Illustration and much more! Parents have peace of mind too, knowing that all festival events are designed to bring together a range of energetic professional artists who specialise in working with children and young people.”

Booking Information

Bookings for the Festival can be made online via ISLANDArtsCentre.com. For festival enquiries please email arts.information@lisburncastelreagh.gov.uk

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