The Venue, Holt

In the heart of Holt is a very special place. The Venue Community and Arts Centre was fully refurbished in 2019 to fully embrace the Arts before sadly having to close its doors due to Covid. But now it’s back and raring to go!

Chairperson Carolyn Burns BA Hons says; ‘Our aim is to provide excellent arts facilities at an affordable cost, to enable newly emerging artists to have a space in which to engage with the public but also to enable those who have not engaged with the arts to connect in new and meaningful ways. We host art workshops, discussion groups, theatre groups, live music and dance, cinematic screenings, and visual art exhibitions, and connect with other organisations to promote the arts in and around our town. The Venue also hosts many local community groups to help to combat loneliness and isolation in the area, with everything from lunch clubs to yoga.’

In 2019, the Venue was thrilled to welcome Lady Anwen Hurt on board as Patron.

‘She is a staunch supporter of the Venue and the Arts activities therein, helping us to establish the Venue as a centre of excellent for the Arts in the region, says Carolyn. ‘She also started the first of our Film Festivals in 2019, screening an eclectic mix of films all with a connection to Norfolk.’

Now The Venue, Holt is delighted to announce its second February film festival which will take place from February 25th to 27th. Given the difficult times we’ve all been experiencing, The Venue, in conjunction with Holt Festival and the Sir John Hurt Film Trust has chosen a wonderful programme of the very best of films to bring a smile and to cheer the heart. With classic films such as Some Like it Hot and Breakfast at Tiffany’s to modern day hits like The Artist and Once, it promises to be a weekend of fun and laughter and there’s nothing quite like being part of a crowd as the lights go down and the credits start to roll. You won’t even have to go out to eat as the excellent kitchen at The Venue will be providing food and drinks throughout the weekend at very reasonable prices. Tickets at £5 per film are affordable and if you’re a real movie aficionado you can purchase a weekend ticket which will give you access to all 10 films for the discounted price of £40.

In conjunction with the film festival, The Venue is hosting A Life in Film, an exhibition of film memorabilia belonging to the late Sir John Hurt. The exhibition will include artefacts from some of Sir John’s most iconic films along with a selection of his drawings and will take place in the newly-named Anwen and John Hurt Exhibition Space. The exhibition will be open during the festival and for the following week. Anwen, Lady Hurt will be the guest at the Arts Forum on February 23rd when she will be in conversation with Phil Barrett discussing her own and Sir John’s experiences working in the film industry.

www.thevenueholt.com

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