A FREE online festival will be staged at the end of the month to mark the 20th anniversary of Rugby Art Gallery and Museum.
Rugby Live will celebrate the town’s music, art and heritage over the weekend of July 31 to August 2, with musicians, bands, poets and performers on the bill.
And the Art Gallery and Museum has issued a call-out to musicians and bands in the town for a chance to perform at a recording studio in Rugby for live broadcast during the festival.
Nikki Grange, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum’s arts, heritage and visitor services manager, said the coronavirus pandemic had put paid to the original plans to celebrate the venue’s 20th anniversary.
She said: “Like everyone, our original plans for 2020 had to be abandoned due to the lockdown, but we remained determined to mark the milestone of being the cultural hub of Rugby for the past 20 years.
“The entire team has come together to organise Rugby Live, celebrating the best of the borough’s art, music and heritage, and we look forward to welcoming audiences both old and new, online, over the festival weekend.”
Further details of the festival line-up look set to be revealed over the coming weeks.
Rugby Borough Council growth and investment spokeswoman Coun Jill Simpson-Vince said: “Since opening its doors in 2000, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum has sought to showcase the best of contemporary art while exploring the borough’s heritage and celebrating the artistic talent on our doorstep.
“Rugby Live builds on the range of innovative online content the Art Gallery and Museum has created during lockdown, and provides a wonderful opportunity for the town’s artistic talent to take centre stage during the venue’s 20th anniversary celebrations.”
Bands can apply to perform at Rugby Live by visiting www.ragm.co.uk/rugbylive and completing an application form.
Poets, dancers, spoken word acts and other performers who can pre-record pieces for broadcast during the festival can apply by email to
[email protected] with a sample video.
All applications must be received by 10 July.
