Festival showcases art alongside architecture

Three clay round sculptures placed on a beige table. There are people in the background talking and looking at other artworks on a wall.Image source, CAROLA RUSH
Image caption,

The Isle of Man Arts and Architecture Festival

  • Published

A festival showcasing the work of about 50 artists and architects on the Isle of Man enables people to "experience all forms of media", an organiser has said.

The Isle of Man Art and Architecture Festival started on 23 August in the south of the island with further events in the centre and north this weekend.

Organised by Creative Network, along with the Isle of Man Society of Architects, the project sees sculptures, paintings, photography and architectural work brought together in a variety of venues.

Chairman of the Creative Network Myra Gilbert said the festival gave people the chance to talk to people who had created the pieces.

An exhibition, featuring an illustration of a green dragon under water with its wings wrapped around a rocky piece of land that has a rocky top that is protruding above the water line. In the background there are other landscape paintings and clay sculptures.Image source, CAROLA RUSH
Image caption,

The festival features work from Creative Network members and seven architects

The festival has spanned 23 venues over two weekends, and includes seven private properties of architectural interest and includes some pieces on loan from the Isle of Man Arts Council.

Ms Gilbert said the festival was designed to promote the work of artists on the Isle of Man and held "something for all ages".

A woman sitting at a table in a small venue holding a mug. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a white T-shirt and is surrounded by paintings which area a mix of landscapes and portraits.Image source, CAROLA RUSH
Image caption,

This year's event is the eleventh organised by the Creative Network

The eleventh festival organised by the Creative Network, the initiative began as a move to open up more venues displaying artwork to the public.

It was hoped including an architectural trail would "widen our audience", Ms Gilbert said.

"What we have found from feedback is that people really like to experience all the different forms of media", she said.

"The artists themselves gain as much as the public do."

The festival closes on Sunday, but an art exhibition showcasing the work of Creative Network members is set to run until 27 September at the Hodgson Loom Gallery in Laxey.

Get in touch

Tell us which stories we should cover on the Isle of Man

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook, external and X, external.

Related topics