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Music, stand-up comedy and children's events are all part of the Curious Arts Festival, but organisers are also offering their support to community projects

It is described as an 'eclectic boutique' event, and the Curious Arts Festival has now become a firm event on the summer calendar.

Returning to Pylewell Park in the New Forest for a fourth year from July 21 to 23, the culturally-minded festival features a creative programme spanning music, literature and thought-provoking inspirational events, with singer/songwriter Tom Odell and soul, funk, jazz and pop goddess Izzy Bizu just two of the music highlights, while Mock the Week's Ed Byrne tops the comdey bill.

Renowned for attracting the cream of UK and international literary talent this unique festival offers a glittering array of the cultural, creative and curious including comedy, music and a packed children’s programme.

From life drawing, midnight bat walks and cocktail masterclasses to snail racing, poetry workshops, pop-up fine dining and even a cricket match no other festival offers anything like this dreamy, fun, eccentric and ultimately inimitable weekend.

Cementing its support of the local community, festival organisers have just announced a three-year partnership with music charity Coda Music Trust, which will see the event working with the charity until 2019.

Coda Music Trust is an award-winning, innovative charity, based on the Dorset/Hampshire border, which uses music as a tool for personal and social change, often tackling issues of social deprivation, isolation, ill-health and disability.

After meeting with the organisation, the festival organisers were impressed with the breadth and quality of the charity’s work in the local community and committed to supporting Coda with an investment of £5,000 over three years.

As part of the programming for children and families at the festival, Coda will be delivering a Curious About Songwriting workshop and a Kids' Ukulele Club.

“As Curious puts down roots with our fourth year in Hampshire, we are delighted to support this wonderful local charity,” says Rory Steel, director of Curious Arts Festival.

“We were impressed by the quality of the work Coda delivers locally and its determination to reach some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

"We are excited about building on this partnership in coming years. Please do consider making a contribution to this great cause if you're attending the festival.”

Phil Hallett, chief executive of Coda Music Trust, added: “We are absolutely delighted that Curious Arts Festival has chosen to support us in this way. We are particularly excited about developing this partnership further and look forward to working closely with Curious over the coming months and years.”

Curious Arts Festival is the first corporate organisation to commit to Coda’s recently launched Coda In The Community fundraising campaign with its investment of £5,000, which will be match-funded by the Arts Council, effectively doubling the contribution.

To find out more about Coda Music Trust visit the website coda.org.uk, contact Coda on 01425 276161 or via email contact@coda.org.uk

Curious Arts Festival takes place at Pylewell Park in the New Forest from 21st – 23rd July. Find out more at curiousartsfestival.com