December 2nd 2012 – More Arts Gallery (43b Peach Street)

Day two sees us on Peach Street at the More Arts space. Once an empty shop, this space and it’s neighbour are used to hold exhibitions, workshops and other arts and cultural activities.

The Cultural Partnership : More Arts is an independent arts development charity that champions all arts forms, and was created to enable and deliver more arts cultural activities and experiences at the local level.

More Arts offers extensive expertise and local links with the creative sector and practising artists. More Arts is lean, flexible and provides services to engage and involve communities by using creativity and the arts.

More Arts is an essential and supportive partner that can help provide education and transformation, contributing to people living healthier and happier lifestyles. Make culture and the arts a part of everyday life, for everyone.

On at the spaces currently are Earth, Sky, Water, Snow a photographic exhibition by local artist Paul Dane and on the 1^st a Christmas Arts Market (also on at the Methodist Centre on Rose Street and Library on Denmark Street)

http://www.morearts.org.uk/index.html

Expect a musical treat on the 2^nd with some performers that float in the atmosphere (although probably not literally).

If you have Twitter you can follow the Town Council at @wokingham_tc where you will find other snippets of information including hints about the mystery performers.

December 1st 2012 – Wokingham Town Hall

To open the Living Advent Calendar where else would we start but the centre of town.

Wokingham Town Hall is a 19^th Century Grade 2* listed building. The current building replaced the previous Guildhall that was built in the 17^th Century and reached a state of such dilapidation that it was decided to build anew.

Previously used as a Courthouse, police station, small covered market and a savings bank it now houses the offices of the Town Council, an Information Centre (recently modernised), a restaurant and holds a variety of events throughout the year, both by the Town Council and by external bodies who hire the space.

The Main Hall, Council Chamber and Annexe are available for hire to external organisations and the Main Hall is also used to host weddings and civil partnerships.
For more information: www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk

On the 1^st expect a grand start, we can reveal that the Town Mayor will open the event but you’ll have to come and see to find out who the act is going to be.

If you have Twitter you can follow the Town Council at @wokingham_tc where you will find other snippets of information including hints about the mystery performers.

Wokingham Town Hall in the snow from 2009

Where is the Living Advent Calendar going to be?

We can reveal that the first 7 venues will be:

1^st - Wokingham Town Hall (Market Place)
2^nd – More Arts (43b Peach Street)

3^rd - Wokingham Décor (56 Peach Street)

4^th - The Local Barber Shop (Montague House, 31 Broad Street)

5^th - The Electric Tattoo Company (Montague House, 31 Broad Street)

6^th - Rococo (9 Bush Walk, Market Place)

7^th - Oslar Coffee (2-2a Denmark Street)

Remember all events start at 6:15pm and are 15 minutes in duration (unless stated otherwise).

Come and see what fabulous local talent we have found to liven up these dark December evenings!

A full list of venues will be available soon both online, on posters through the town and flyers. You can also visit our new and improved Information Centre from Monday the 26^th November for more information on Wokingham’s Living Advent Calendar and other events happening throughout the Town.

Also:

The Living Advent Calendar is featured in today’s edition of the Wokingham Times on page 10.

Wokingham welcomes you to it’s first ever Living Advent Calendar

A whole month of festive activities are planned in the run up to Christmas. The fun commences on the 25th November with the annual Wokingham Winter Carnival. There will be family entertainment, performances, and a fun fair throughout the town, culminating in a parade of floats and the official switching on of the Christmas lights. 

Following this on the 28th November we have the annual “Dressing of the Christmas Tree” where local school children present handmade decorations to the Town Mayor, Cllr Peter Lucey, who will receive these and place them on the large tree in the Market Place.

December 1st then sees the initial performance of the first ever Wokingham Living Advent Calendar sponsored by the Town Council. Every evening between the 1st and the 24th of December at 6.15pm there will be a mystery performance by local talent at a different location in the Town with collections for four local charities: WADE, More Arts, Wokingham Rotary Club and JAC.

A full list of venues will be available in November. Posters and flyers will be circulated throughout the town with further information, and online at:

advent.wokingham-tc.gov.uk

which includes an interactive advent calendar of the event.

Performances may include singing, instrumental recitals, family entertainment, dance and live theatre.  But you will have to wait until the night to find out what the performance will be.

Records of each performance will be posted online as soon as possible, as well as information about the participating venues and charities.