Following press revelations about the re-introduction of the Folkestone Air Show, it can be revealed that plans are indeed being made for this to happen.

The idea was born out of the success of neighbouring air shows at Margate and Eastbourne, which have proven to give a great boost to the local economy from tourism and business investment. With Folkestone now regarded as the place to visit and recently voted in the top ten UK destinations by the CSMA, the time seems ripe for the Folkestone Air Show to return.

Final plans have yet to be ratified and much work needs to be done. However, the idea has wings and it looks like we will see the first air show in some 9 years, with first events taking place in 2012 around the time of the 2012 Jubilee celebrations (final date to be announced soon).

It is planned to build on the success of the 2012 event to enable a full air show to be mounted in 2013, which will be every bit as good and comparable to similar shows in the southeast. A lot of research has been done and still needs to be done to ensure its success so that it will become an annual event, worthy of the tens of thousands of visitors expected to attend.

It is stressed that no council funding from tax payers will be made, with the final cost to be met purely from sponsorship, local business involvement and donations. However both the 2012 and 2013 events have the full support of Shepway Council who will work with the event teams to ensure these events go ahead smoothly, safely and successfully.

Further information on the 2012 Jubilee Air Show can be obtained from John Barber Folkestone Town Centre Management.

Planning of the proposed 2013 event is already at an advanced stage and those wishing to be involved by way of corporate or individual sponsorship are invited to indicate their interest and in due course will be sent a sponsorship pack.

The theme of the 2013 Shepway Air Show will be REACH FOR THE SKY, invoking memories of the role this region played in the Battle of Britain, as well as demonstrating the huge opportunities for business to invest in this emerging region.

For the 2013 there will be various Business Conventions, Art exhibitions and Entertainment provided, culminating in a weekend of ground events and air displays from the top RAF and private display teams.

Enquiries for the 2013 air show can initially be made to Project Lead Jan Holben jan.holben@hotmail.co.uk There will be a Folkestone Air Show website soon where information about both air shows, details of sponsorship packages and posters can be downloaded.

Over two weeks in July, 383 primary Folkestone school children and secondary school students, together with 59 teaching staff visited the excavation site of the Roman Villa on East Cliff in Folkestone as part of the project A Town Unearthed: Folkestone before 1500. Organised by Marion Green, education officer of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust and helped by volunteers Yvonne Hutchcraft, Pat Cocks, Roma Mortimer, David Paton, Daniel Harris and Iain Nielson, groups of children and students were shown round the site, told of its history and saw and handled some of the many finds

It was clear that they enjoyed the visits and finding out about the villa, of which one student said “I didn’t know it was all here” another was surprised to learn “that a Roman house is under the grass.” and another commented “we are walking on history”. One enthusiast said “I’m coming back in the holidays”. Others learnt that “archaeology isn’t just about finding big things”, “that the Romans had under floor heating” and “the Romans used a rib bone to scrape the oil off them in a bath”. One teacher felt that the “children were highly motivated, interested in what they were seeing and enjoyed listening to the history of the villa.”

Marion Green said “”I am very pleased with the way the school visits have gone at East Cliff. We have a good team of local volunteers supporting the education work, who were quick to learn and not afraid to get stuck in with classes of children. Teachers were appreciative, many of them clearly benefitting from the experience along with the children who had lots of questions!”

Helping on site during July were ten work experience students from Folkestone, Canterbury, Ashford, Ramsgate and Dartford as well as some students from the University of Kent and Edinburgh University. Hattie Grylls, an Archaeology student at Edinburgh university, said “This my first practical experience of digging. It has certainly lived up to my expectations. I found it quite thrilling discovering and uncovering things but I am also looking forward to sorting and washing some on the finds”. It was also a new experience for David Swann, a student at Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford who hopes to study ancient history at University and perhaps have a career in archaeology.

Also as part of a Town Unearthed and as a contribution to the Folkestone Triennial Fringe, a mosaic, using re-cycled glass chippings and a few fragments of Roman pottery and tile, has been mounted on the side of a brick building near the Roman Villa. Organised by Yvonne Hutchcraft with the help of Annie Begley, the initial layout was taken from a section of Roman flooring uncovered in a previous excavation, while the final design was the result of a competition run through local Primary Schools. Children were asked to create designs depicting roman and/or modern day to day living. The winners were Thea Jones from Morehall, Kayla Ostridge from St Mary’s, Ethan Blackie, Liam Wetherell, Aleena Liby, Tahlia Fagan, Rebecca Inglelbrecht and Elena Philpott from Stella Maris, Thomas Cloke, Phoebe Dellison and Cameron Stranage from Sandgate, Jarid Farnworth and Eleanor Priestly from Elham and Chloe Wilson from Castle Hill.

Further events have been organised to involve children. On Saturday 30th July and Saturday 6th August from 2.00 - 3.30pm, as part of the BBC ‘Hands on History’ project, 53 children aged 7-12 years and their families or carers took part in practical and interactive archaeology workshops at the Roman Villa site.

The involvement of children and school students in a wide range of activities, including classroom visits, is a key component of A Town Unearthed: Folkestone before 1500, which is a three year project of community archaeology in Folkestone, organised by Canterbury Christ Church University, the Folkestone People’s History Centre and Canterbury Archaeological Trust. It is funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund and The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust with additional contributions by Folkestone Town Council, Kent Archaeological Society, Kent County Council, Shepway District Council (East Folkestone Change together) and the Tory Family Foundation.

The villa site at Wear Bay Road is open for visitors from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm, seven days a week. If you wish to get involved as a volunteer please come to the site or contact Hannah Lewis on 01303-850614. www.atownunearthed.co.uk

Dear Friends in Music,

Vacancies currently exist for three sopranos in the SHEPWAY SINGERS. This versatile, active and friendly chamber choir of 24 singers specialises in ‘a cappella’ music and has an unusually wide repertory that ranges from the 16th to the 21st centuries, covering both secular and sacred. Forthcoming concerts include Britten’s Hymn to St Cecilia, Bach’s Lobet den Herrn and Holst folksong arrangements. Occasionally works are performed with orchestra. Rehearsals are scheduled to match concert commitments and are held in Hythe (St Leonard’s Church) on Sunday evenings (7.45pm–9.00pm). Singers are expected to be reasonably competent sight readers. For further information and to arrange an informal audition, please contact Isolde Swinfin (administrator) <Isolde-sandgate@homecall.co.uk> or Berkeley Hill (conductor) <b.hill@imperial.ac.uk>. Vacancies for other voices also occur from time to time.

With all good wishes,

Brin Hughes (Shepway Singers tenor!)

Please find art-beat-newsletter-june2011; apologies for it being a bit late. This issue covers events for this month (as usual) but it also has a listing of arts events throughout the summer.

The contents are:

Ø Events in Shepway in June

Ø Art Exhibitions in Shepway June – September

Ø Arts Events & Exhibitions in other areas of Kent

Ø Folkestone Triennial – a Million Miles from Home

The launch event, the Triennial Conference, tours, family workshops

Ø Triennial Fringe update

The Fringe is almost here! Call for metal detectors; Call for artists films

Ø Summer Events

Jim Jam Arts in the Coastal Park (3 free summer family events)

Leas Bandstand – summer concerts

Brief listing of other events July – September

Ø General Notices

South East Open Studios

HG Wells Tea Party

Open Day at UCF

Royal Shakespeare Company / FHODS

Goldilocks on Trial – auditions

Summer School – Beddow Academy

Free Open Workshops – Low&High

Arts Workshop – mixed media

Free Workshop – on getting published

Workshops @ The Cube

Kent Cultural Baton

PANeK (Performing Arts Network)

East Kent Live Lit

Sport Art – 5 SDC-funded projects

Nicholette Goff – Weeds, Seeds and Dandelion Chains

Job Opportunity – project co-ordinator

Job Opportunity – for new arts venue in Ashford

Volunteers Wanted

Grand Auctions

A Town Unearthed

Ø Funding Opportunities

Amanda Oates

Arts Development Officer

Community Development and Engagement

Tel: 01303 853464

Fax: 01303 853502

Friday 1 April, 7.30pm: Chalkfoot Theatre presents ‘Queen Elizabeth’s Elephant’ at St Nicholas Church, New Romney TN28 8EX. Tickets £10, £9 conc; refreshments. For bookings, call 01797 366959 or email liz.skillbeck@tiscali.co.uk.

Friday 1 April, 8pm: Open Mic Night at Home Ground, 41 The Old High Street, Folkestone. 01303 241079, www.homeground.co.uk.

Saturday 2 April, 7.30pm: RANT Poetry Night - part of the Three Monkeys Film Festival at Home Ground, 41 The Old High Street, Folkestone. Tel 01303 241079, www.homeground.co.uk.

Saturday 2 April, 7.30pm: Drum Chasers at Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone. The new percussion spectacular from the creator of international success Noise Ensemble. Ten fantastic percussionists and dancers take to the stage in an explosion of sound and light with a story of rivalry, romance and rhythm. Tickets: £17.00. Box Office: 01303 228600 www.leascliffhall.co.uk.

Saturday 2 April, 7.30pm: Hythe Town Concert Band, Hythe Band of the Salvation Army and the Shepway Community Gospel Choir return to St Leonard’s Church, Hythe, for their annual combined concert. This will be followed by a retiring collection.

Saturday 2 April, 7.30pm: Lonestar Comedy Club presents Stand Up Comedy at The Lanterns, Rendezvous Street, Folkestone. Each show will feature a minimum of four stand-up comedians, hand picked from the UK comedy circuit. There is a full bar service and food will be served during the first interval. To Book: go online at www.lonestarcomedy.co.uk, visit the Lanterns in Rendevous Street, call the Lanterns on 01303 223364, call Lonestar on 07771 796 445 or email lonestarcomedy@hotmail.com.

Saturday 2 April, 8pm: Craig Campbell at Quarterhouse, Folkestone. Internationally acclaimed, Craig’s whimsical travel anecdotes never fail to surprise. Craig is currently completing a nationwide tour with Frankie Boyle. Tickets £10 in advance. £12 on the door. Box Office 01303 858500; www.quarterhouse.co.uk

Sunday 3 April, 3pm: Music on a Sunday Afternoon: Antara - Thomas Hancox (flute) and Rachel Wick (harp) at SS Mary’s and Eanswythe’s Parish Church, Folkestone. Tickets £8 on sale on the door from 2.15pm and can be reserved in advance by calling 01303 257248. E-Newsletter - April 2011

Sunday 3 April, 7.30pm: Bluesky Pie presents: Unplugged at Quarterhouse, Folkestone. FREE event featuring six live acoustic acts. www.quarterhouse.co.uk.

Tuesday 5 April, 12noon: Lunchtime Recital at St Leonard’s Church, Hythe. Lucy Williams (mezzo-soprano) and Sebastian Grand (piano), both graduates of the Royal Northern College of Music, perform a programme of songs entitled ‘Dreams, journeys and the sea’ and including works by Berlioz, Duparc, Elgar, Schubert, Richard Strauss and Vaughan Williams. Tickets at £5 can be obtained at the door; admission free to those under 18 in full-time education. The recital will be followed by ploughman’s lunches in the church from 1pm.

Wednesday 6 April, 7.30pm: Bluesky Pie presents: Heat 4 Battle of the Bands at The Lanterns, Rendezvous Street, Folkestone. Featuring Mistiksin, Trip Rush, The Level, Call off the Search, Zorzilla, Jack Lumber, £4 on the door.

Thursday 7 April, 8pm: FILM: Another Year (cert. 12A) at Quarterhouse. Another quietly contemplative, beautifully observed film from director Mike Leigh. Starring Jim Broadbent. Tickets £3.50 in advance; £4.50 on the door. Box Office: 01303 858500; www.quarterhouse.co.uk.

Thursday 7 April, 8.30pm: Jack Pound’s Open Stage at The Butt of Sherry, High Street, Hythe. For more information, call 01303 266112.

Thursday 7 April, 8.30pm: Jazz Club at The Tower, The Tower Theatre, North Road, Shorncliffe, Folkestone CT20 3HL. Alan Barnes and Andy Panayl – two of the giants of the British jazz scene, plus Nick Peck (keyboard), Alex Keen double bass) and Teddy Pope (drums). Tickets £8; call 01303 277175.

Friday 8 April 7.30pm: Mapdance at Quarterhouse. Now in its fifth year, Mapdance has established itself as an exciting company of dynamic, contemporary young dancers. Tickets £8 on the door; £10 in advance. Box Office: 01303 858500; www.quarterhouse.co.uk.

Saturday 9 April, 7.30pm: Seize The Day at Quarterhouse. A pair of beautiful and inspiring comedy plays that tell the story of people who never thought they had it in them. Tickets £8 in advance; £12 on the door. Box Office: 01303 858500; www.quarterhouse.co.uk 7 – 9 April, 7.30pm: Company of 12 One Act Supper Theatre presents ‘Between Mouthfulls’ at The Grand, Folkestone. Tickets £20, includes 2 course dinner. Written by Alan Ayckbourn, performed by Casimir Nech, Roy Blake, Hilary Nech, Clare Beechey and Jeremy Lewis; with musical interlude with Jean Collins. Tel: 01303 222222; www.grand-uk.com.

Sunday 10 April, 6pm: Stainer’s “Crucifixion” at the United Reformed Church, close to Folkestone Central Station – in aid of the Pilgrims Hospice. Free Admission - retiring collection. All Singers Welcome but prior enrolment essential (rehearsal 3-5pm) - contact 01303 242694.

Monday 11 April: Bluesky Pie’s Mish Mash Monday at The Lanterns, Rendezvous Street, Folkestone. Five live bands, £3 and 30% off all drinks.

Thursday 14 April, 8pm: FILM: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (cert. 12A) at Quarterhouse. Winner of the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2010. A visually stunning and mysterious film. Tickets £3.50 in advance; £4.50 on the door. Box Office: 01303 858500; www.quarterhouse.co.uk.

Thursday 14 April, 8.30pm: Jazz Club at The Tower, The Tower Theatre, Folkestone. The Pete Abbott Sound – swinging quintet. Tickets £5, call 01303 277175.

Friday 15 April, 8pm: Imran Yusuf at Quarterhouse. Star of Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, Imran Yusuf hits the road for his eagerly awaited debut tour. Tickets £12, £10 Concessions. (16+) Box Office 01303 858500; www.quarterhouse.co.uk.

Saturday 16 April, 2pm: Art Exhibition and Auction Sale devoted to the weird and wonderful world of Mr Vic Reeves at The Grand, The Leas, Folkestone. Exhibition and auction will include: affordable art, original illustration, acrylics, oils, watercolours, pen and ink drawings, collages, mixed media, large oil paintings exhibited at Saatchi 2010, framed illustration exhibited at Paul Smith and Heathrow Terminal 5, limited edition signed prints from £50.00. Open viewings Thursday 14th, 11am – 7.30pm; Friday 15th, 11am – 9pm; Saturday 16th, 10am – 2pm.

Saturday 16 April, 7.30pm: Army of Freshmen at Quarterhouse. Keyboard-heavy power pop band from Ventura, California. Support from pop punk Norfolk boys Lost?, and Kent’s own Call Off The Search and Promise Me Tomorrow. Tickets £9 (16+) Box Office: 01303 858500; www.quarterhouse.co.uk.

Wednesday 20 April, 7.30pm: Blueskypie presents: Heat 5 Battle of the Bands at The Lanterns, Folkestone. Featuring The Associates, Chase Plan, We can touch the Sky, Avenge Thee & Naime, Kuulama, Animated Spittaz. Tickets £4.

Thursday 21 April, 8pm: Jack Pound’s Open Stage at The Butt of Sherry, High Street, Hythe. For more information, call 01303 266112.

Thursday 21 April, 8pm: FILM: The Kids Are All Right (cert. 15) at Quarterhouse. One of the breakout hits of the Sundance Film Festival 2010. Starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. Tickets £3.50 in advance; £4.50 on the door. Box Office: 01303 858500; www.quarterhouse.co.uk.

Thursday 21 April, 8.30pm: Jazz Club at The Tower, The Tower Theatre, Folkestone. Pete Long and Georgina Jackson. Pete Long - a virtuoso of all the reeds plus a brilliant raconteur and famous for leading the tribute bands to Duke Ellington & Benny Goodman. Georgina Jackson - the lady who is recognised as the UKs No1 lady jazz trumpeter. Tel: 01303 277175.

Good Friday 22 & Easter Saturday 23 April, btn 10am and 4pm: Creative Quarter Easter Egg Hunt. Come along to the Easter Craft Emporium or Quarterhouse Foyer on Sunday for our FREE Easter Egg Hunt!

Good Friday 22 and Saturday 23 April, 10am – 4pm: Easter Craft Emporium at 3 – 7 Tontine Street, Folkestone. Come and browse a fantastic selection of local arts, crafts and food on offer at this special Easter event. There will also be refreshments by Home Ground Café Bar.

Good Friday 22 April, 7.30pm: Folkestone Choral Society and Amberley Orchestra: PUCCINI (Messa di Gloria, Preludio Sinfonico); RUTTER (Requiem) at Leas Cliff Hall. Tickets £16, £13, £9. Box Office 01303 228600; tickets also available at the door.

Good Friday 22 April, 7pm: November Coming Fire at Quarterhouse. After a 4-year absence November Coming Fire have exploded back onto the British Hardcore scene supporting friends, Gallows, at sold out shows around the country. Tickets £7. (16+). Box Office: 01303 858500; www.quarterhouse.co.uk.

Good Friday 22 April, 7.30pm: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at the Tower Theatre, North Road, Shorncliffe, Folkestone. The hit musical comedy. www.towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk.

Friday 22nd April, 8pm: Rock Night at Home Ground, 41 The Old High Street, Folkestone. Tel: 01303 241079, www.homeground.co.uk.

Easter Saturday 23 April, 10am – 3.30pm: Sandgate Easter Art & Craft Fair at Chichester Memorial Hall, Sandgate. Local arts and crafts including original paintings, limited edition prints, greetings cards, hand-made scarves and hats, picture frames, jewellery, quilts, gifts, face and body creams, locally produced wine. Cafe facilites providing refreshments all day. FREE entry, FREE parking at the SAGA premises for visitors.

Bank Holiday Monday 25 April: Bluesky Pie’s Mish Mash Monday at The Lanterns, Folkestone. Five live bands; tickets £3 and 30% off all drinks.

Thursday 28 April, 8.30pm: Jazz Club at The Tower, The Tower Theatre, Folkestone. Dick Pearce and the Richard Rozze Quartet. Dick Pearce - the legend of the jazz trumpet and who spent 13 years with Ronnie Scott. Tickets £7, call 01303 277175

Thursday 28 April, 8pm: FILM: The Kings Speech (cert. 15) at Quarterhouse. Oscar winning adaptation about King George VI and the speech therapist who helped him overcome his stammer. Tickets £3.50 in advance; £4.50 on the door. Box Office: 01303 858500; www.quarterhouse.co.uk

Friday 29 April, 7.30pm: Lonestar Comedy Club presents Stand Up Comedy at The Lanterns, Rendezvous Street, Folkestone. Each show will feature a minimum of four stand-up comedians, hand picked from the UK comedy circuit. There is a full bar service and food will be served during the first interval. To Book: go online at lonestarcomedy.co.uk, visit the Lanterns in Rendevous Street, call the Lanterns on 01303 223 364, call Lonestar on 07771 796 445 or email lonestarcomedy@hotmail.com.

Friday 29 April, 8pm: Bluesky Pie presents: DJ of the YEAR FINAL at Quarterhouse, Folkestone. Eight finalist DJs play to see who will be crowned the DJ of the YEAR. The winner will play gigs in London, Brighton and then jet off to Ibiza in summer to play the coolest venues on the island. With industry judges and special guests this is going to be an awesome night. Tickets £5; 16+ event. Box Office: 01303 858500; www.quarterhouse.co.uk.

Friday 29 & Saturday 30 April: 7.30pm: “Refit of H.M.S. Pinafore” at The Tower Theatre, Folkesone. Two semi-staged concert performances of Michael Irwin’s brilliantly witty “Refit of H.M.S.Pinafore” directed by Audrey & Richard Baulch and Michael Foad. “Every note of Sullivan, but Gilbert’s wit brought into the 21st century!” Tickets www.towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk.

Saturday 30 April, 8pm: Live Music from Mark Stone at Home Ground, 41 The Old High Street, Folkesone. Tel: 01303 241079, www.homeground.co.uk.