The Portland Arts Festival is back!

From the 18th to the 22nd of June South Norwood will be lit up by the 2008 Portland Arts Festival. Last year was a great success and this year promises to be even better. We have already lined up loads of exciting events - keep your eye on this page as we will be posting the details here as the events are confirmed.

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Dave Woodhead and the Positively Test Card confirmed!

PPR are thrilled to announce that Dave Woodhead and the Positively Test Card will be playing the Portland Arts Festival on Sunday 22nd June.

Positively Test Card at Glastonbury

Dave has been playing Kwela - a South African penny-whistle-driven music - since 1995. He played with such luminaries as Billy Bragg and Robyn Hitchcock before forming his band Positively Test Card.

The guys have played Glastonbury and they even have an record named "The Indestructible Beat of South Norwood".

If that is not enough to convince you to come and check them out visit the Positively Test Card website where you can here samples of their sounds.

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Already Confirmed....

Ruth Webb on D.H. Lawrence in Croydon

The Portland Arts Festival are thrilled to welcome back Ruth Webb. Last year Ruth gave us a fascinating insight to researching biographies based on her own experiences of writing about Jean Rhys and Virginia Woolf. This year she discusses the life and work of another literary giant D.H. Lawrence. Ruth celebrates the 100th anniversary of D.H. Lawrence's arrival in Addiscombe to teach at Davidson Road school by talking about his life and work during his time in the area.

Keziah Thomas

Multiple prize-winning Harpist Keziah Thomas returns to the Portland Arts Festival. Last year she performed with Opera singer Melanie Lodge in an evening of beautiful classical and stage music that was a real highlight of the Festival. This year she will be offering us something different but it is sure to be just as unmissable. Watch this space for more details.

Dance! Dance! Dance!

The Portland Arts Festival welcomes back a number of the dance groups that graced last year's shows and some new acts too. We have the Aangikaam Dance Akademi, Apsara Arts, Isis Belly Dancing, Old Palace Clog, St. Mark's and Reminisce and we are still adding more. Check this page for updates to who is performing when and where.

Pepperton UK State of Flux Art Show

Cafe and Art Gallery Pepperton UK will be hosting the summer exhibition "State of Flux" with presentations and art from international and award winning artists including Temsuyanger Longkumer, Melanie Alfonso and Bula Chakravarty Agbo. Pepperton UK are also welcoming open submissions from both aspiring and professional artists to display their work at the gallery during the exhibition. Those wishing to apply should refer to the application form and artist terms and conditions for more information. As well as promising to be a great show, the exhibition will also provide an excellent opportunity to try Pepperton's appetising menu of food and drinks. See the State of Flux flyer and the Pepperton UK website for more information and up to date scheduling.

Still more to come...

We are still booking more artists, performers and musicians so keep an eye on www.peopleforportlandroad.org.uk/arts to see who we have confirmed. If you would like to perform at the Festival, to host an event or to help with the organising please get in touch with us as soon as you can using the contact details on the Contact us tab.

My South Norwood Photo Competition

Anyone can enter the Portland Arts Festival photo competition! Please let us have your images on the theme of ‘My South Norwood’ by the 31st May for your chance to win.

Thanks to the competition sponsor Croydon Law Firm Pro-Leagle, there are three cash prizes to be won!

The Winner will get £120, second place wins £60 and third gets £30.

Councillor Steve Hollands, Croydon Council Cabinet Member for Culture and Sport, will be choosing the winners.
To view the full terms and conditions and to find out how to enter, just download the entry form here.

Here are last year's winning and runner-up entries.

Sponsors and Advertisers Urgently Needed

Unfortunately our funding applications failed so if you are interested in sponsoring any of the events we would love to hear from you. We believe what benefits South Norwood benefits South Norwood businesses so help us to help you.

You can email us at contact@peopleforportlandroad.org.uk. If you do not have access to email, click on the Contact Us link to find the other ways to get in touch.