Keble Arts Festival 2024

Ushika Kidd (2022 Human Sciences) and Laura Brink (2022 English), write:

During 6th week of Hilary Term, Keble College celebrated the 2024 Keble Arts Festival. Organised by JCR Arts and Publications Officers Ushika Kidd (2022 Human Sciences) and Laura Brink (2022 English), the festival comprised a week of daily arts events and the launch of Keble’s annual in-house magazine, The Fig.

The theme for this year’s Arts Festival was “The Supernatural”, which inspired the contents and design of The Fig, the festival’s social media marketing, and many of the events. For examples of supernatural-themed events, look no further than the first evening of the festival (Monday 19 February), which featured an exciting pair of literary talks on the topics of water monsters and hags by two of Keble’s English tutors. Laura and Ushika continued to interweave the theme with other groups within Keble by organising a special curation of supernatural-themed books in Keble Library, working with the librarians on an exhibition of rare witchcraft- and magic-related books on Wednesday 21 February, and inviting a second year English student, Tessa Armstrong, to do drop-in tarot reading sessions on Saturday 24 February.

Though the choice was made to open up the events to non-Keble members and put Keble at the forefront of the arts — social media statistics show that this was successful through much-increased engagement — the festival had a decidedly “Keble” flavour. Keble students were encouraged to attend events through a “KAF card” loyalty scheme: each event they attended allowed Keblites to collect stamps, and those with three or more were invited to celebrate the end of the festival with a pizza wrap party on 25 February.

The festival furthermore aimed to integrate the arts into other parts of student life in the College, such as hosting a “zine” and banner-making workshop on Tuesday 20 February in collaboration with the JCR entertainment officers, Keble College Football Club, and Hertble (our women’s football team with Hertford College), in order to make banners for the college’s upcoming Cuppers Finals matches. The festival also promoted Keble-run societies, such as the Oxford Pottery Society and Oxford Origami Society, at pottery-making and origami folding workshops held on Thursday 22 and Sunday 25.

At these workshops, as well as others such as candle painting (22 February) and life drawing (24 February), students were encouraged to create art and showcase their creative talents. Many of their creations have since been featured on Keble’s JCR social media. A highlight of Keble’s creative talents was to be seen in the festival’s last official event, a read-through of a Keble-written play script “Pretty Little Lawyers” on 25 February.

Dispersed throughout the week were also events which aimed to bring exciting speakers from without College to share their creations and expertise with students. Prime examples include a poetry reading on Friday evening of 6th week by Keble alumnus Joe Treasure and his sister Liz Treasure, as well as a talk and Q&A with film producer Jack Tarling on Saturday 24 February, in collaboration with the Oxford University Film Foundation (another currently Keble-run society).

The range of events offered ensured that there was something artistic for everyone in Keble to enjoy, and many of the materials purchased for festival workshops will be free for JCR members to reuse throughout the year in their own and College-run arts events. The arts officers and festival co-presidents are most proud of The Fig, which both gave them the rare opportunity to hone their editing and creative skills and allowed many Keble students from all years and a range of degree titles to get their work published in print, lowering access to such opportunities and allowing the college to celebrate the great literary talent housed within our brick walls.

Many months of planning and passion were poured into this festival, and the co-presidents thank everyone who attended the events, as well as the Keble Association for their continued support of the Keble Arts Festival. We hope that Keblites will all continue to support and participate in the arts, and embrace all things “supernatural”.