LONDON.- The Whitstable Biennale is a festival of contemporary visual art. It has grown out of the developing artists' community in Whitstable and celebrates Whitstable as an increasingly important centre for artists and curators.

The programme explores performance, and includes ambitious new works by Jananne Al-Ani, Oreet Ashery, Clio Barnard, Mike Chavez-Dawson, Nick Crowe, Ryan Gander and Serena Korda sited all over Whitstable

Each weekend a programme of one-off performances and events will unfold. These including films imagined by audience members with a hypnotist, a symphony played by a fleet of ice cream vans, a re-creation of moments from The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, interventions by The Saint/s of Whitstable, seaside cabaret and a pub quiz with no right or wrong answers. Emma Leach and Frog Morris have curated the performance programmes.

Main Programme
The Whitstable Biennale 2008 features seven main new works, together with extensive screenings and performances. Click on the icons above and right for more information about all the works. The Whitstable Biennale is curated by Director Sue Jones, and the performance programme for 2008 has been curated by Frog Morris and Emma Leach.

Zoë Walker & Neil Bromwich Celestial Radio, A Visionary Journey

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June

The Celeste, a glittering boat covered in sixty thousand mirror tiles, will arrive in Whitstable on Saturday 21 June at 14:00, mooring offshore and visible from The Horsebridge. Celestial Radio is inspired by the legendary final broadcast in 1974 from the Mi Amigo - one of pirate station Radio Caroline's ships - as well as the last, ill-fated voyage across the Atlantic by conceptual artist Bas Jan Ader. Celestial Radio will be broadcasting sound material recorded locally mixed with music from the pirate radio era compiled by Djs Readers’ Wives, to create a multi-layered soundscape broadcasting via FM radio and on headphones collected from the Festival HQ.

The Celestial Radio East Kent tour is a Turner Contemporary project, travelling to Whitstable, Margate (5-8 July) and Folkestone (19-20 July). For further details see www.turnercontemporary.org


Satellite Programme
A large and lively programme of satellite projects and events will be taking place all over Whitstable to accompany the Biennale.

LOCAL
Curated by Polly Read, this year the satellite programme is entitled LOCAL. Pick up a copy of the LOCAL brochure along with your biennale guide from the Festival HQ for details of over 30 further exhibitions, events and surreal activities. Also visit the LOCAL website for the latest news and updates at www.localencounter.co.uk

Encounter the following at LOCAL:

Transition Gallery are holidaying from London and camping out each weekend in John Butterworth's studio for their seaside inspired exhibition That's Entertainment.

In response to the summer solstice (21 June), catch The longest day of the year film festival, a large open air cinema screen on West Beach showing a stunning selection of artists films.

On Saturday 28 June from 7pm head to the Whitstable Town FC, Club House on Belmont Road for TALK SHOW - an underground night of art and music. Including a show curated by Royal Mail, short film screenings, a free zine and musical performances by Thomas Truax, Henry Dagg and Jigsaw project + Dj set from the Tropical Robots.

The Coastguards Lookout will be buzzing with artists taking up temporary residencies through out the biennale with a retro collage party on the last weekend.

Other highlights include Evan Parker, Sadie Hennessy’s Vital Signs, I don’t belong in a sexual society, The Haunting, Rimprov, Portable Radio, The ear of the storm, Ida on the beach.