Imperial College Arts Festival 2006 takes place on 6-10th February with it's organisers aiming to "dispel the myth that our college excels only at science, technology and medicine". With some 20 societies and over 500 performers and artists involved, this year's festival promises to showcase the less academic talents of Imperial's students.
Musical acts this year will include some of the more established societies such as IC Symphony Orchestra, Choir, and Big Band, as well as debutants including Medics' Choir, and recently formed societies such as IC String Ensemble.
Performing arts this year takes on a global flavour, with Dance, Capoeira, Chinese Wushu and STOIC presenting alternative takes from different cultures. There is also an opportunity to participate with a Dance Marathon on Wednesday afternoon accompanied by a free workshop for several of the aforementioned societies.
For those more interested in visual arts, there will be a display from Tuesday to Friday in the Blyth Gallery, level 5 Sherfield, where Leosoc, Photosoc and Origamisoc will be exhibiting. Leosoc have apparently prepared a surprise for anyone who walks through college each day so keep your eyes peeled!
A new feature of this year's festival is the busking, which will take place every lunchtime at the entrance to Tanaka Business School, and the foyer of the Sherfield building. These will include chamber music, magicians, break dancers, mime artists and more. All money raised by the buskers will go towards the chosen charity for this year: C-R-Y or Cardiac Risk in the Young. Every week eight 'apparently' fit and healthy young people die in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions and CRY aim to support victims and research ways to stop this happening. There will be an informal charity concert on Wednesday evening, where proceeds will go to CRY.
The Festival will commence with an informal Chamber Music Concert, before 'Jazz and Rock Tuesday' and 'Charity Wednesday'. Thursday will see Big Band playing in dBs, and the whole festival will climax on Friday with a Finale Concert in the Great Hall, which will feature some of the highlights of the week and much more.
All events throughout the festival are free, with the exception of the Finale Concert (£3 students, £6 non students) which includes free entry to the Union for the Artsfest Afterparty - with drink promotion prices all night! Tickets will be on sale in Sherfield every lunchtime throughout the week, and from any society in the Finale Concert. Visit the Artsfest website for more details!
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