Blythfest is a celebration of Blyth’s art and culture, brought to you by Blyth Culture Network. Over two/ three weeks each year in June-July we showcase the best of Blyth culture with an abundance of events, festivals, exhibitions, shows and workshops.
Blythfest 2024 ran from Friday 14th June to Saturday 6th July. Have a look at the programme of events.
Blythfest 2025 info will be posted here closer to the time!
Blythfest logo (click to expand)
Blyth Culture Network commissioned Star Gaze Free Press to create a fresh new logo for Blythfest 2023.
Star Gaze Free Press is a printmaking collective supported by Headway Arts with funding from the 1989 Willan Trust. Learning disabled creatives use different printmaking techniques to create unique and imaginative designs for printed products, commissions and exhibitions.
The brief was to explore imagery that had not been previously used to depict Blyth. The design created shows one of Blyth’s greatest assets: our beautiful South Beach. The local dolphins leap out of the water in joyful celebration of all the good things about Blyth, symbolic of the rise of our great Blyth community.
The design process was initially explored by the artists as a collagraph. A collagraph is essentially a collage of materials of various textures glued on to a short run printing plate, often card or wood, or as in this case recycled card. This was then inked up and printed in various tones on Headway Arts’ great flatbed hand press. This vibrant version was selected as the one to become the logo.
It was then digitally scanned and refined as it needed to have a high dpi for professional print. The handmade quality was retained.
The text is in Salmela Script font which is a free design from GenesisLab and shows dynamic flow, and a rustic sense chosen for its universal and jaunty appeal. It’s informal but reads clearly. Originally text was to be a dark blue, but thoughtfully changed to black as it was to be used by lots of different organisations and individuals within the Blyth Culture Network for their Blythfest event publicity. A black would be more easily matched to their existing marketing materials. It would also be very clear and accessible for everyone to read, whether large on a banner or small on a business card.