Ageas Salisbury International Arts Festival presents a wonderful array of spectacular events. Classical and world music share the limelight with international theatre, dance, film, visual arts, children’s events, free outdoor events and a full literature programme. The Festival draws the best artists from around the world, commissioning and creating work unique to the region.

In 2013, the Festival will celebrate the vibrant arts of Catalunya, through Catalan theatre, film, dance, music, talks and food. Human castles will be built outside the Cathedral spire in Catalan tradition by the Castellers of Vilafranca. World famous Catalan artists will perform, including Pep Bou, Nats Nus, Los Galindos, Cobla St Jordi, Jordi Savall and Carles Santos. The city will be adorned with breath-taking installations from Girona’s Flower Festival and there will be opportunities to sample Catalan cuisine. The Catalan programme is supported by the Institut Ramon Llull, which promotes Catalan language and culture abroad.

The Festival programme features events for everyone to enjoy:

• Close Encounters, on the opening Saturday of the Festival (25 May), will begin the Festival in spectacular style. The day will feature free entertainment for all in Salisbury Cathedral Close, including the classic Festival Playday, a wide variety of new, world-class street theatre and installations, Catalan cooking and more. The Fireworks will take place in the evening.
• The Festival will host an exciting range of family events, including Festival favourites Illyria who return with a performance of Dick King-Smith’s Babe the Sheep-Pig. There are plenty of events to engage children of all ages, from re-workings of classic fairytales to entirely new experiences and workshops for hands-on creativity.
• The 2013 literature programme boasts John McCarthy, Kate Humble, Dan Snow, A C Grayling and others, presenting a wide range of subjects for discussion and debate. The vice-president of Futbol Club Barcelona, Carles Vilarrubí, will also be giving a talk.
• The glorious setting of Salisbury Cathedral will host a number of spectacular events, featuring highlights of this year’s classical music programme. The Cathedral will be transformed by Circa and I Fagiolini, who will bring a combination of beautiful music and exhilarating acrobatic feats into this sacred space in How Like An Angel. The Festival will showcase performances in numerous other fantastic settings in and around the city, including Old Wardour Castle and Wilton Church from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Fretwork, the Hilliard Ensemble, the Allegri Quartet, the Tallis Scholars and more.
• The Festival will present a range of musical styles across Salisbury, from a rich classical programme to fun, popular Catalan bands including Astrio and La Troba Kung-Fú. The ever-popular Salisbury Live will host local bands in pubs throughout the city.
• Six Highlight events, released in December, have already generated great interest and enthusiasm for the 2013 Festival, with Pinchas Zukerman and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra proving particularly popular.