VERNEUIL.-The objective is now clearly identifiable for this 4th Festival (from 22 March till 27 April 2008), as we must assure the perenity of this unique cultural event in France and solidly anchor this Festival as part and parcel of the cultural scene. Our ambition is to make Verneuil one of the capitals of Naive Art in the world. All this is gradually taking form, year after year.

Even if everything is not going as well as we would like, we can however express verbally our dreams, and more importantly, permit all the amateurs and lovers of this such particular art form, to keep on dreaming. Even better, she shopkeepers and businesses are also starting to have faith in the Festival as though we have woken the sleeping beauty which is Verneuil, after 6 years of drowsing. One must say that this year, the program will be particularly inviting.

As the �Publics Choice Prize 2007� was awarded to an Englishwoman, Linda Frances TROTT , it is she who will have the honor of doing the Festival poster for 2008 with a very beautiful painting depicting a marriage at the Town Hall � la Mairie of Verneuil. Its for this reason that we shall be receiving around fifteen British painters, and that the United Kingdom is the invited country this year.

The cultural program of this Festival will be principally marked by the arrival of numerous painters in residence It is the painters themselves who are the best placed to continue highlighting this Festival and its for this reason that we will continue in this sense, by hosting artists in residence . Their differences can only enhance the event.

We had a try out, in April 2007, with the Polish sculptor Jozef SZYPOLA . He will be back this year with a fellow countryman, also sculptor. They will have the task of working on 3 meter high monumental sculptures, in front of the visitors. The diameter of the tree trunks being between 0.80m and 1 metre. This could eventually open out on to a Symposium of figurative monumental sculptures, if we find sufficient financing. ! It is an extra point for this Festival, as the public will see the spectacular way the sculptors work and trim the tree trunks. It will also confirm the popular character that we wish to give to this Festival.

We know for the moment that near to 100 artists have confirmed their participation,. So far, we can say, without doubt, that there will be 120 artists from over 25 different countries and exhibiting over 800 works of art, painting, sculpture, ceramics, tapestry and the novelty this year, painting on pebbles.

As regards the painters, we will be receiving some 15 members of the Association of British Naive Painters ABNA, and the polish painter Eugeniusz BROZEK who also exhibited in 2007. We will also be hosting in residence the painter from Burkino Faso, Inoussa SIMPOR dit INNO. He is only 25 years old, and has painted publicity signs since the age of 12 , as did the Russian naive painter Niko PIROSMANI. Recently, and with the help of the Frenchman Jean Jacques FILLINGER,

INNO only paints �powerful� paintings., he also has surprising maturity and a defined taste. It is one of the fundamental aims of the Festival , to show new talent.

As well as the St Laurent Hall, there will be a second exhibition site, just as prestigious, as it is the Cloister of the St Nicolas Abbey (XVIIe century)., here will be exhibited the British painters, the painters and sculptors in residence and the paintings on the theme of �The Marriage�. This magical site is being loaned to us by the bishopric of Evreux, to whom we are most grateful.

The Twin Town Committee are bringing their support to the elaboration of the Opening Day showing, as the people of Stowmarket - the twin town of Verneuil- will be the invited guests in the town during Easter. We are asking all of the shopkeepers, if they would like to decorate their shop windows in the �colors� of Great Britain. This would enhance the British aspect of the Festival , with our invited group ABNA (Association of British Naive Artists) , and which could eventually interest the BBC, but also other correspondants from the British press. In order to enhance the importance of the opening day of the Festival with our British friends, but also to make it as unforgettable as possible, we have thought of adding a festive atmosphere in the streets of Verneuil with the help of �La band de LULU�, (LULU�s Band). They are three women and one man, who will give an extra festive fantasy to the afternoon program.

For the fourth year running we will be receiving the visit of primary school classes, more numerous each year. Its is in their interest that we have advanced by a week the programming, due to the Easter holidays that will begin on the 7th April for the local areas. The theme this year being the Marriage. We give much time and effort each year in organizing the Drawing Competition with an authentic jury, because we would like children to regain an appetite to draw. We are also hoping that in this way, the idea planted in their minds, will have positive repercussions in their lives, and therefore in ours, as they are our future. We are very pleased and proud that our sponsor for this event LEFRANC et BOURGEOIS are renewing their help. It is due to them that we are able to offer the magnificent paint boxes to the prizewinners at the ending of the Festival, the 27th April 2008 at 16h00 It does prove to be one of the high moments , as the children are applauded by many adults, including their parents ; we would like to think that this would be one of the best days of their childhood. years.

There is already tangible evidence of our mediatic efforts. We have rented 60 advertising panels instead of the 40 rented in 2007. We will , once again , take a double page spread in the UNIVERS DES ARTS magazine, but also one in the ARTS MAGAZINE. We have obtained articles in the following magazines : - VSD , Normandy Magazine, La Croix, Pays de Normandy, the National Edition of Ouest France, Maisons Normandes, Modes et Travaux, C l�Eure etc ; plus the radio France Bleue and the television channel France 3 should also be joining us.

Last year 2007, we were very lucky to have amongst us, the film director Jean Yves POUTIERS, who originated the idea of the F�tes de la Peinture (Painting Festivals) all over France, and who made a wonderful DVD of 1h40mn of our Festival in 2007. His angle of approach was interviews of the artistes participating, separated scenes of Verneuil, in all its beauty. For 2008, he is going to put more accent on the general ambience surrounding the Festival and the sensations felt by the visitors as they take in the works of art exhibited. We are certain that again, he will make a superb film.

We have another objective in mind, which might prove difficult, but which would be very positive on a mediatic level. This is to bring the Minister for Culture , Christine ALBANEL to visit our 4th Festival. We are starting to make some moves in this direction but we will gratefully accept the help of anyone who has influence to help this come about.

For a couple of years, people have been asking us if we organized painting courses. Because of lack of time, we were unable to satisfy their demand. But from now on, this will be possible, thanks to the help of Christine Vandemoortele, who will organize courses of Naive painting, given by confirmed painters from different regions, all of whom are used to giving painting lessons. The participants of these courses, will be able to go home at the end of the week with their own painting under their arm.

Another new event we will be able to propose to the public is a rendez-vous with Naive Art in the form of an expos� . This conference will be animated by Pierre BONNIOL who lives in Marseille. Recently retired, and married to the naive art painter, Danielle BONNIOL-FERRUS, for many years, he has developed a passion for this art form, becoming a collectio