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Salisbury International Arts Festival is one of the biggest multi-arts Festivals around and each year presents a top class programme of Music, Dance, Theatre, Opera, Literature and Films bringing the city of Salisbury, England to life over 17 days. The Festival began in 1973 and was put firmly on the Arts map between 1993 and 2000 when Helen Marriage joined the team as Festival Director. The Festival was transformed from a small local affair into what The Times called "an astonishing success", developing the programme and increasing the turnover by almost 700%. Since then, the Festival has developed and grown and now delivers a diverse programme of over 100 concerts, gigs, exhibitions and plays including world premieres, Festival commissions and special one-off exclusives. The Director of the Festival holds the position for four-year and this year has seen a new Director take the stand. For her first festival, new Director Maria Bota, has chosen a series of themes ‘India’,‘spirit’ and ‘water’, which were woven throughout the programme of world class contemporary and traditional arts events. This year has also seen an expanded programme of outdoor events with activities scattered throughout the city, enabling audiences to trip over the festival in unexpected and unanticipated ways. Maria comments: ‘I am thrilled to present my first festival in Salisbury. Our surrounding area is steeped in history and tradition, places of devotion, ritual and celebration, from the ancient circles of Stonehenge and Old Sarum to the spire of Salisbury Cathedral. These locations offer incredible settings for artists to respond to and be inspired by.’

Artist in Residence East meets West in an inspiring programme of events from the Festival’s featured artist - composer, producer and virtuoso tabla player Kuljit Bhamra. During the Festival, Kuljit will collaborate with a range of artists, from one of Britain’s finest jazz musicians, Andy Sheppard to early music ensemble, the Orlando Consort. He will also accompany a silent film and will present a unique sunset performance at the ancient site of Stonehenge featuring the dancers of Srishti, Y Yadavan’s Indian vocals, percussionist Sandeep Raval, shaman Judith Seelig and the drummers of Taala. Celebrated as one of the founders of Bhangra music, Kuljit has also written film scores for countless movies, including Bend it like Beckham, and will talk about this part of his work.

Festival-goers will be able to enjoy a host of outdoor events including: the free opening event of internationally-acclaimed French aerialists Transe Express who will take to the air, in the Market Square, in an amazing human mobile of drumming majors; Long Division, a sound installation created by IOU in the Cathedral’s beautiful cloisters which is timed to the chimes of the Cathedral clock; and choirs from across the region come together to Sing for Water, in support of a WaterAid project in India, at a special performance in Salisbury’s Cathedral Close. The market square also plays host to free street theatre at lunchtimes on market days during the Festival.

Wilton’s beautiful Italianate church is the venue for the world premiere of Seven Elements - the final piece in Vikram Seth and Alec Roth’s critically acclaimed Festival commission, Confluences. Performed by tenor James Gilchrist and violinist Philippe Honoré, Seven Elements weaves the themes of the last three pieces - China, Europe and India - together into two new works.

With this year’s focus on using the city’s open spaces, Salisbury’s Cathedral Close will be transformed during the Festival by the arrival of Amococo, a stunning maze-like installation designed by Architects of Air. Step inside and enter a beautiful sequence of caverns, while vivid reflections of liquid colour spill across the curved walls creating a world apart from the normal and everyday.