ARTISTS from across the Scarborough area are being invited to showcase their talent at a fundraising exhibition.

St Mark’s Church in Newby is celebrate community creativity by holding the exhibition as the centre piece of a free week-long arts festival, with events held daily from Sunday 19 May to Bank Holiday Monday, 27 May.

As well as the exhibition, the church is to host music, film and literary events each evening, beginning with a grand opening night, starting at 6pm.

‘We’re giving local artists the chance to reveal their hidden talents – and raise money for the church at the same time,’ said festival spokesman Trevor King.

‘Many people in this area may have not exhibited before and their work is maybe in the shed or the bedroom and kept secret.’

Mr King said they want to feature a diversity of art, including paintings, drawings, photography and 3-D work including ceramics, glassware and textiles.

He added: ‘We know this town has so many people who are really gifted. We want them to get involved and show us what they can do.’

All the exhibits will be up for sale with the artist receiving an agreed percentage of the sale price, said Mr King.

There promises to be something for everyone during the week with a busy programme of events.

·      Opening night with cheese and wine. Steve Brookes on piano

·      Open rehearsal of Staxton Singers

·      Film night showing Ewan McGregor in Christopher Robin

·      Scalby School music evening

·      Published artists and poets at literary evening

·      Scarborough Community Choir in concert

·      Singing vicar Revd. Mike Leigh and friends

·      Thanksgiving Praise Service

The festival is the latest of a series of fundraising events St Mark’s is staging as it aims to raise £250,000 to build an annex at the rear of the church by 2022.

The extension will include a kitchen and café area, toilets, an office, meeting rooms and storage space.

A new £95,000 roof has just been completed from grants, legacies and a series of fundraising events held over three years.

Services were held in the church hall on Coldyhill Lane until work to the roof as well as extensive rewiring inside the church was completed.

Looking ahead to the festival and daily exhibition, Mr King said: ‘Everybody is excited about what we have planned.

‘We hope people from across the town will come along and really enjoy all the festival has to offer with us.’

Artists who would like to display their work should contact Trevor on 07941 338 466 or trevorkimg3355@gmail.com as soon as possible.