• Looking for the Arts Area 2010?

  

  If your looking for what the Strawberry Fair Arts Area is upto this year, check the Arts Area homepage for 2010.

• What We Did In 2009

• The Friday Film Festival

  

  Spawned by the Arts Area crew who hated to see a good tent go empty, The Friday Film Festival has taken on a life of its own, so please read the Film Festival pages to find out what's on offer, or if your reading this on Saturday, to see what you have missed. However all is not lost because we can offer you...

• The Saturday Film Tent

  

  A less formalised version of the Friday festival we present a fabulous programme of short films, details of which you will find in the page dedicated to this event. Enjoy!

• Richard Heeps Photographic Exhibition

  

  The Arts Area is proud to present an exhibition of photographs by acclaimed local photographer Richard Heeps. Many of his images will have particular appeal to Cambridge because they bring the fens, (our back yard) to us, showing the familiar, but with a twist of gentle humour and quirky observation, the sometimes bleak and mundane seen with a true artists eye. Richard still uses film rather than digital and processes his work in a conventional darkroom. The result is one of splendid detail and sumptuous colours. Also featured are images from his American road trip. Is it the photograph of the wild west or Wisbeach. At times its hard to decide.

• Interknit

  

  Come and take part in the Interknit: pay homage to the craft's past warmth and cosy domesticity,and in particular it's social aspects . Add your bit to the ever-growing interwoven work and be part of a piece of community art.  Cathy Dunbar and Helen Judge will be on the sofa knitting, discussing and drinking tea from 12 noon. Knitters of all experience are welcome, instruction can be given, all materials are provided but bring your own if you want.

• 209 Shorts

  

  Wonderful sound art made for broadcast on Cambridge community radio station 209 Radio by a host of inspired individuals, assisted and directed by local artist Kirsten Lavers these exquisite fragments all have but one thing in common. They are all 2 minutes 9 seconds long.

• Gothometer

  

  Realize and release your inner goth with this amazing interactive technosculpture. Be prepared for shock and awe at your inner goth percentage.

  

  NOTE: Rumours of dangerous levels of ionising radiation emanating from the Gothometer nuclear power fuel cells have been greatly exaggerated.

  

  NB: SF excepts no responsibility for nasty rashes, decaying body parts, mental degeneration or death that may develop at a later date.

  
  

  P.S. Do not touch metal parts, exposed wires, glowing rods etc.

• Craft Tent

  

  New for 2009, we showcases the quality work of local Cambridge craftspeople who would not normally get the chance to offer their work at Strawberry Fair. A first for the Arts Area you will find it in one of our marquees, (probably identifiable by a sign saying 'Crafts'). Browse, buy and meet the makers.

• Starving Artists

  

  Back again after the success of last year, the Starving Artist marquee features the work of emerging local artists. Paintings, ceramics and mixed media work fill this gallery to give a rich and inspiring visual experience View them now and maybe even buy a piece before their work heads to bigger and brighter things, (when you will be lucky to acquire, even if you could afford it, which I very much doubt, the dust on their shoes).

• Arts Area Signage

  

  Who better to provide big beautiful (and non authoritarian) signage than graffiti artists. This year local street art collective Blight Society have provided the arts area with some spectacular work combining their art with useful public information. These light hearted notices have been custom made for the fair, reflecting local culture and letting new-comers in on our quirky Cambridgeness.

• Freetail

  Come and be part of this amazing site specific instillation. Instigated last year by the staff and clients of the Castle project and now, back by popular demand freetail: the free green shopping experience where you can bring clothes, swap clothes,take clothes and even customize them while you are there ,This is the artwork that only works with your input. But is it art?

• Programme Stall

  Hmmm? What can one say... Odds are that if you are reading this you have already run the gauntlet of the Programme Stall. If not and you have had the temerity to buy it elsewhere, or even worse are free loading someone else's copy then come and pay us a visit. Its not like other programme stalls you know.

• 

  Simon Mullen

  Strawberry Fair Film Festival organiser and master of ceremony. Such a live wire he crackles

• 

  Cathy Dunbar

  Artist, knitter and Jack (or should it be Jill?) of all art related jobs.

• 

  Caroline Mead

  Administration and mistress of the minuets

• 

  Helen Judge

  Artist and poster design supremo.

• 

  Liz Ledger

  Strawberry Fair Craft Tent organiser and style guru

• 

  Justin Agius

  Starving Artists supremo, (photo not of him but someone who looks just like him)

• 

  Zoe Smith

  Site Crew and cheesy chips

• 

  Colin DeWar

  Techy artist in residence. What that man can do with a PCB and an old bike...

• 

  JC

  thats me! Arts Area co-ordinator and SF oracle, (I remember that in 1986...blah, blah, drone...)

Old News

Check out previous goings on in the Arts Area in our archive.

Contacting the Arts Area

The Arts Area needs artists and volunteers! If you’re an artist and want to realise your project in a dynamic and unpredictable open space, or you want to help out in any way, or if you just have a comment or a question, email