Southwold Arts Festival 23rd - 30th June

The Southwold Arts Festival is back for another year, kicking off this Saturday, the 23rd of June for eight-days of music, drama, poetry, visual art, photography, dance talks and literature. The acclaimed event will launch with the annual Street Festival at 12 noon, which features musicians, performers, dancers, stalls and a fancy dress parade. The following seven days sees a whole host of cultural activities being hosted around Southwold. For the latest timetable and ticket prices please click here.

Here at Collen & Clare, we are super excited to join in with festival and along with sponsoring 'Jazz At The Movies' , which you can read about here, we are also entering the high street's best dressed window competition. As proud winners of last years competition, this year we are interpreting our vision of the theme 'The Sea'.

Designed and installed by Kate Charles, our window has been inspired by the fantastic BBC series Blue Planet and sees our front window being turned into a mesmerising underwater tank. Our installation nods to the current environmental plastic debate, featuring an elegant Merman who is seen collecting plastic waste from the bottom of our Coral reef, surrounded by playful fish shoals, colourful Sea Urchins and a chest full of Mulberry treasure.

Where possible, our window has been created using environmental friendly products. The 'Coral' in the window was collected from burnt Gorse bushes found on Southwold common, painted in a brightly coloured Coral palette. The majority of the display has been created from recycled pleated paper from Ciment Pleating. A family run business with clients including top fashion designers, interior designers, dress makers, film companies and now Collen & Clare! Finally, secret fans have been placed behind the scenes to keep the coral reef waving!

Inspiration drawn from coral reefs for reference

Recycled paper from Ciment Pleating being molded into a bustling coral reef full of colour, texture and shape

Handmade Sea Urchin's ready to be placed in the underwater tank

Our Merman ready to collect some plastic!