IN this week’s We’re Backing Stroud, we take a look at the unique culture of Stroud and the best ways to spend your free time.
WHEN the cold weather disappears and is replaced by glorious British sunshine a culture of festivals becomes prominent in Stroud with events ranging from weekends of live music to art exhibitions and various nature workshops.
During the August Bank Holiday weekend Stroud comes to life with Fringe Festival, offering three days of entertainment.
Last year the festival celebrated its 20th anniversary and has become a prominent date in the calendar, taking place all across Stroud.
Fringe attracts children and adults alike with a wide variety of street food to sample and drinks provided by the Stroud Brewery.
DJs and artists from across the south west descend upon Stroud to offer a range of musical performances.
With famous names such as Damien Hirst gracing the studios of Stroud, it is certainly a district where there is a strong artistic culture.
The Lansdown Hall & Art Gallery showcases weekly exhibitions from work by local groups to established professionals.
Furthermore, the SITE arts festival is already well under way, bringing a dynamic programme of visual arts, performance, music, screenings, open studios, artist talks and workshops to the Stroud Valley.
This year will see the 21st open studios event bringing 102 artists to 48 locations in and around the area on the weekends of May 6-7 and May 13-14.
One of the locations will be Stroud Valley Art Space which provides a year round artistic programme, situated in John Street since 1996.
SVA director Neil Walker believes the SITE festival and the open studios is a great way of putting local artists on the map.
He said: “SITE festival is here to profile contemporary art in Stroud.
“It is unusual that a small town has such cutting edge art that you are likely to see in Bristol or London.
“SITE is all about the spirit of the art community and helping people network with each other.
Perhaps the beating heart and main entertainment venue of Stroud is the Subscription Rooms.
This Stroud District Council owned venue showcases a wide range of musical genres plus comedy, dance and the spoken word.
The venue also offers workshops and classes ranging from yoga and relaxation to patchwork quilting classes.
Sadly, the future of the Sub Rooms is very uncertain with the district council no longer able to cover the huge loss it sustains each year.
Art exhibitions are regularly held there - with a recent display showcasing the pastel work of Rod Friend.
One picture featured Cider With Rosie author Laurie Lee, who famously grew up in Slad.
Laurie Lee
The Museum in the Park is another important Stroud venue, telling the story of the districts diverse history and culture.
It is run and funded through a shared partnership between Stroud District Council and the Stroud District (Cowle) Museum Trust.
It receives 55,000 visitors a year all wanting to explore over 4,000 objects, from dinosaur bones to the world’s first lawnmower.
Museum development manager Kevin Ward said: “The Museum in the Park is a fantastic day out – there are the main displays, temporary exhibitions, the newly opened walled garden.
“If that wasn’t enough, it is located in the beautiful Stratford Park, which along with the Museum, contains an arboretum, woodland, lake, leisure centre, play areas and model railway to name a few.
“It is the only Museum which tells the story of the Stroud Valleys and the wider district, giving visitors the chance to find out about the people who lived and worked here, from the earliest settlers through to the present day.
“The Museum acts as an important cultural venue for tourism, promoting a strong culturally vibrant Stroud.”
The Museum in the Park
Stroud also has a large performing arts culture and film and theatre festivals are an annual feature in the district.
The inaugural Stroud Book Festival took place in November with Ian McEwan and Jilly Cooper, who lives nearby, among the authors who were present.
Stroud has a unique and alternative culture and there is certainly no lack of entertainment.
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