A Carlisle art festival will be hosting two events this week to celebrate the city’s culture.

This year’s Historic Quarter Arts Festival focuses on work with the theme of ‘Faces of Carlisle’ and includes portraits of mayor Abdul Harid, Carlisle United manager Paul Simpson and regulars at the city’s former Turkish baths.

On Friday, August 18, there are two special events taking place with Carlisle Writers’ Group is holding a workshop inspired by the paintings at Tullie from 11am – 2.30pm.

While Ben Heslop from Blank Wall Assassins is leading a walk around Carlisle’s street art on the same day at 6pm (18:00), meeting at Intro on Paternoster Row where the central exhibition for the festival is taking place.

Artist Seren Shaw has curated the exhibition and is hoping that locals and visitors will enjoy the free art trail which runs until the end of August and for the first time her StArt studio at West Tower Street is hosting some of the work.

Former University of Cumbria student Molly Hughes is delighted to see her painting displayed by StArt as she launches her career: “It’s great that our work can be shown beside that of professional artists who have exhibited at the Royal Academy and the National Portrait Gallery.

“It’s so exciting for Carlisle to have such an eclectic exhibition.”

Artwork is on display in 18 different locations around the Historic Quarter, with the main exhibition and sales point at Intro HQ on Paternoster Row. 

Art lovers can follow the trail around each venue and explore the historic quarter of the city with its quirky shops, restaurants, cafes and businesses. 

Local businesses have sponsored the event by offering prizes across six categories including painting, illustration, textiles and glass, photography, mixed media and digital art. 

Lucy Matthews of Bookends is supporting the illustration category and Adrian Tod, of Hayward Tod, is supporting digital art. 

Visitors to the exhibition are invited to have their say too by popping voting for their top three works at the Paternoster Row base.

The most popular piece will be presented with the People’s Choice award, sponsored by Black Box architects.

The Historic Quarter Arts Festival runs until Friday, September 1.

For more information visit https://weareintro.co.uk/artsfestival2023/