Groundbreaking Animation at Womad Festival

Festival Crowd Header
womad

Seven giant sea containers lie marooned in the Wiltshire landscape. The mysterious remains of an ancient civilisation or the shape of things to come?


Since 1982 WOMAD has presented successful festivals in the UK and in 26 countries around the world.  With a magnificent disregard for creative and national boundaries, for pigeonholing or for playing-it-safe, the festival again welcomes artists from all over the world next month, to the rolling hills and rural beauty of its idyllic location in Wiltshire.  

As its name suggests, WOMAD brings to worldwide audiences the best of music, dance and art from many culturally diverse traditions.  While music forms the core of each festival programme, the visual arts have always played a key role.

Following the success of last year’s installation Moving Portraits, WOMAD has once again invited Jeni Walwin and Tammy Bedford to curate a programme for the 2011 festival.

This year no fewer than six leading artists will be showing their films inside their own sea containers in an exhibition named GIVING SOUL. 

Each container will be fitted with the technology to display a series of short animated films at cinema-quality, free, to all-comers throughout the festival.  Each full cycle will last approx 8 minutes, focusing on the work of six artists considered to be leaders in the field in this medium. The selection will take in a wide definition of animation, involving a range of techniques – the drawn, the painterly, the sculptural, and the digitally adventurous – and will represent a variety of themes which include humour, global politics, the environment, ecology and club culture.

Here are some of the artists taking part Edwnia Ashton, Sebastian Buerkner, Melanie Jackson, William Kentridge, David Shrigley, Simon Faithful.

WOMAD Charlton Park 2011 takes place at Charlton Park, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire on the weekend of 29-31 July. This is the fifth year that WOMAD has held its principal festival. The organisation now has 29 years’ experience of hosting festivals worldwide. 

Published on 22 June 2011 by UKFG

Recent News More news

  • GALA Festival Teases First Wave of Artists for 2026

    GALA Festival announces the first wave of artists for its 2026 edition, embracing the theme 'The Floor Is Ours' to celebrate community and creative ownership in dance culture. Dive into the lineup featuring renowned DJs and stage takeovers from NTS, Deviation, and more.

  • Standon Calling festival to close as organisers enter liquidation

    Standon Calling, a popular music festival in Hertfordshire, has announced its closure after the company behind it entered liquidation. The festival, known for attracting thousands of attendees, faced financial losses and was unable to secure additional investment to continue.

  • Becky Hill to Headline Essex Festival | Event Details Revealed

    Dance-pop artist Becky Hill has been announced as the headliner for next year's Colchester Castle Summer Series. With two BRIT Awards under her belt, Hill is known for her powerful vocals and energetic performances. Find out more about the event details and ticket sales here.

  • Bob Vylan postpone two UK gigs due to political pressure

    Bob Vylan, a punk rock duo, have postponed two UK gigs due to political pressure after making controversial statements and actions. The group's performances have sparked backlash from various groups and individuals.

Upcoming Festivals Browse all

  • Pitchfork Music Festival

    4 November - 08 November 2025

    Pitchfork Music Festival returns to London for another multi-artist event, this time over six days in the best venues throughout the capital.

  • Simple Things Festival

    08 November 2025

    Join us at the Simple Things Festival on November 8, 2025, for an exhilarating journey through diverse musical landscapes. This one-day extravaganza showcases a vibrant mix of genres and talents, offe...

  • London Jazz Festival

    14 November - 23 November 2025

    Experience the soulful sounds and rhythmic beats of the London Jazz Festival, slated for November 14-23, 2025. This iconic event transforms London into a jazz haven, featuring world-renowned artists a...