A FESTIVAL celebrating Southampton’s culture and heritage will come to the city.

More than 40 musicians and bands will rock St Denys Church for the Art of Heritage event.

It will run from September 9 to 11.

Last year it was called Heart of Heritage exhibition and was organised and run by Southampton Chamber of Arts.

But now the event has got a life of its own and is being run as a Community project.

The event aims to promote and celebrate the diverse arts culture of Southampton and to provide platforms for artists to sell their work.

The event also has a knock on effect within the local community; boosting trade to local business and providing affordable targeted advertising in our glossy programme. Schools access creative workshops and competitions.

This year, St Denys school pupils have been challenged to design a stained glass window with a local theme.

The winner will see their window design made into a real stained glass panel for their school’s reception area created by local stained glass artist, Isaac Thom Glasgow.

Local artists will be exhibiting their work against the stunning backdrop of the interior of the church.

Artisan crafts will also be on site in the main hall exhibiting their hand crafted wares including; hand painted dresses, paintings, jewellery, cards, preserves, patchwork quilts, and recycled trash made into treasures.

There will be two theatre performances; one from multi award winning, Todoart13 performing their internationally acclaimed ‘Frida’, the story of the great Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

Hampshire based OddBox theatre performing ‘Nevermore’, an adaption of the Edgar Alan Poe’s famous poem.

Theatre in a bag will also be storytelling amongst the crowds.

The best of Southampton’s urban street artist will also be in action.

Art installations will be in the grounds, from stained glass gardens to carnival bands and live sculpture which children can help create.

A group of skaters will be installing, painting and documenting a skate art work and skating on the end product.

Creative workshops will also be outside including slate carving and willow workshops.

Spike Island Motorcycles will be displaying a selection of their motorcycles for a mechanical design perspective of art.

Radical Roots will be providing locally sourced and organic vegan foods from their street stall or chill out in the in house café for refreshments and hot and cold food which is run by St Denys church to raise much needed funds.

Sea Shepherd is the chosen charity and the event will also support Heart in Hand Project.