Painting Canada: Group of Seven exhibition comes to London

We were very excited to be invited to attend the launch of a brand new exhibition at the Dulwich Picture   Gallery last night. For the first time since the 1920s, artwork by Canada’s renowned ‘Group of Seven’ has arrived in London, offering a rare chance to get a taste of Canada’s beautiful landscapes without needing a passport!

The Group of Seven were based in Ontario and many of their paintings feature impressionist-style landscapes from this province, with a particular emphasis on the lakes and forests of Algonquin Park and the Muskokas. They also travelled further afield throughout Canada, evidence of which can be seen in their artwork – such as Varley’s West Coast Sunset and MacDonald’s Lake O’Hara.

We were so inspired by these striking colours and epic landscapes that we’ve created a special collection of holidays to compliment some of our favourite Group of Seven paintings.  Find out more here.
 
And for more inspirational Canada holidays, you can pre-order your copy of our new Canada brochure here.

 

Painting Canada: Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven Exhibition opens to the public on 19 October and will be on display until 8 January 2012.  Tickets are £9 per adult, more details can be found here.

Skåne in Sweden proudly hosts the world's largest picture made of apples!

The town of Kivik, in Skåne southern Sweden,  hosts the amazing Kivik Apple market, a 2 day festival each September to celebrate the humble apple.  Join 20,000 visitors and witness the incredible, huge picture made entirely of apples, of every shade and hue, whilst being royally entertained by the many major artists who come  to this corner of Sweden to celebrate the harvest in music and song.  This year's festival takes place on 24th and 25th September.

When you visit Skåne, it soon becomes apparent that this is a wonderful place to relax and absorb the calm surroundings.  It is a very popular area for both Swedish and Danish nationals who enjoy this region.  Whether you choose to explore by bicycle or by car on a self-drive itinerary - in  Skåne it is easy to unwind as it is to fill your days with as much activity as you please. 

It is possible to visit the Apple Market and Kivik on our Discovering Skane itinerary which takes in Kivik on day 4 as you journey between Ystad to Kristianstad along the pretty coastal route. 

Reykjavík Arts Festival

Are you heading to Iceland over the next week? Or popping over to Reykjavik for a city break this weekend? Then you must get along to this years annual Reykjavík Arts Festival – Iceland’s premier cultural festival. 

Established in 1970, the festival begins today and continues until June 5th. This year’s event has a particular focus on performing arts, with international acts featuring amongst local talent. 

The event will showcase a range of music and dance, with this years event being particularly special as it is the first year that some of the performances will take place in Harpa, the brand new concert and conference hall on the Reykjavík seaside.

For more information, click here.

WildPhotos – Wildlife Photography Event

The 22-23 October sees the return of Wildscreen’s WildPhotos event, the UK’s premier photography symposium for those passionate about nature photography.

With a sensational line-up of the world’s finest nature photographers and industry experts, this two-day event, held at the Royal Geographical Society in London, promises to inspire and enthuse. The impressive line up of international speakers led by David Doubilet (USA) includes Mark Carwardine (UK), Danny Ellinger (Netherlands), Charlie Hamilton James (UK) and Stefano Unterthiner (Italy) and many more.

The event will close with a series of unique behind the scenes presentations by winners of the 2010 Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition (winners names to be announced on 21 October 2010).

Tickets and a full programme are now available. A one-day ticket costs £110; two-day tickets are £180.

Join us there and find out more about our wildlife holidays and maybe you could start taking award winning wildlife shots! Find out more and to book your tickets »

In addition, clients visiting our stand will have the chance to win either a signed print by Iceland’s leading photographer Ragnar TH Sigurdsson or a signed copy of his stunning photo book “Eyjafjallajokull, untamed nature”.

More Adventures from Melbourne

Here Josie continues her tales of her recent trip to Melbourne, Australia...

 

Melbourne is well connected and is served by a fantastic bus, train and tram network. So making good use of our Metcard, we hopped on the tram – first stop: St Kilda! The best known landmark of this seaside precinct is the historic Luna Park fun fair – the laughing face façade and roller coaster have both been classified by the National Trust and it’s a real favourite for families. Or, for those who prefer a more natural and tranquil setting, St Kilda Botanic Gardens offer a wonderful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the CBD. For me though, my favourite place in St Kilda is one of Melbourne’s Food Precincts, Acland Street! Spoilt for choice with all the cake shops, what better way to enjoy a morning coffee, than sat on the promenade overlooking the sleek Melbourne skyline, listening to the sound of the waves on the shore and devouring a delicious Acland Street cake!  

 

Delectable delights done with, it was time to hop back on the tram and head to the heart of the CBD, Federation Square - affectionately known as ‘Melbourne’s meeting place’. With more than 2000 events annually, and a real buzz in the Square’s air, Fed Square is where you want to be for arts and craft exhibitions, live music and an array of al fresco dining and copious amounts of coffee! Very much the pulse of Melbourne’s cultural and creative heart, Fed Square offers something for everyone and good times for Melbournians and tourists alike.

 

For those who really want to explore the city, why not lose yourself in Melbourne’s Laneways … a labyrinth of alleys, unique boutiques, concealed cocktail bars, and tantalising restaurants, the Laneways offer some of Melbourne’s hidden gems and a superb shopping experience.

 

So whether it’s art, music, sport, beach, gardens or shopping that make you smile, you will certainly find them all in abundance in Melbourne, and you can always be sure to find a serene spot to while away the evening, planning the next day’s adventures, sipping a glass of Yarra Valley wine. 

Summer & Jazzzzz

Summertime brings wonderful delights in various forms, my favourite being music festivals. Each year I pilgrimage to hear phenomenal music outdoors in the sunshine…well, perhaps the sunshine isn’t always present but the tunes that fall upon my ears are always unfailingly fabulous. With the huge volume of us that venture to these festivals I can only assume I am not on my own with my love for this, therefore I present to you the idea of combining travel and music. Why not go on a short break this summer to enjoy Reykjavik Jazz Festival which starts on 13 August (click here to find out more), or if you’re travelling to Iceland for a self-drive, pop in to the city and have a little interlude in between experiencing Iceland’s wonders. Whatever your taste in music there is a festival out there for you, just quietly waiting to be discovered this summer.

Reykjavik Arts Festival - Online Video

With the proliferation of online videos brings a wealth of sights and sounds that can now be viewed worldwide without the need to leave the comfort of your arm chair. However, I am a great believer of first-hand experience and I am yet to come across a video that beats this. Yet saying that, videos are a wonderful way to learn and get a taste of all the wondrous joys out there and believe me, there are some truly sensational experiences just waiting to be discovered. So, I present to you the first in a series of Guardian Video Breaks – click here to view Iceland's captial, Reykjavik and meet the people behind its annual Arts Festival which is running until 31 May 2009. If you’ve missed the chance to visit this year then I’m sure there is a video out there that will capture it for you!

"Life Isn't Just a Game - it is also a Bed of Roses'

As a continuation of my previous blog in creative exploration in Iceland I thought it fitting to note a new exhibition that has recently opened in the Reykjavik Museum of Photography “Life Isn’t Just a Game – it is also a Bed of Roses”. This exhibition of iconic Icelandic photography will prove to be of interest to not only creative folk but people who are keen to learn about Iceland a little further and grasp a snippet of Icelandic culture. The exhibition is running until 30 August 2009 and admission is free...perhaps an unusual way to start your holiday in Iceland this summer.  

Explore your Creativity in Iceland

Iceland is a haven for artists all through the year. With draws such as incredible landscapes, lighting, culture and natural phenomena it’s not surprising that it has the highest per capita number of artists and writers in the world.

If, like me you are looking forward to outdoor summer art events and would happily travel to experience the joys festivals bring then perhaps the Summer Art Festival in Akureyri in Iceland is just for you.

Akureyri in north-east Iceland is the largest town outside the capital region and is situated in a spectacular fjord. The location provides the perfect setting to enjoy the contrasts of the bustling town with the tranquillity of the spectacular fjordland. The Summer Art Festival runs from mid-June to the end of August and is ‘crawling with bohemians and art lovers during the festival’. However, if your summer is already planned out then fear not as Iceland is sure to satisfy any hungry artists’ desire throughout the year.

So get out there, explore your creativity, indulge your senses and return feeling inspired and full of wonderful memories.

Iceland comes to London this Autumn

For a nation of 300,000 people, Icelanders certainly pull their weight in the art and music world. Two of Iceland’s cultural institutions are coming to London in the upcoming autumn months and both are well worth a look.

The Sirkus Bar in Reykjavík was for many years home to many of Iceland’s greatest artists, musicians and writers and despite its ramshackle appearance was much loved by residents and visitors alike. Adorned with two over-sized puffins and light features that rarely worked, the bar was even home to one of Björk’s music videos.

Sirkus unfortunately couldn’t survive as modern bars moved in all around, but it will be resurrected in London for the upcoming Frieze Art Fair in Regent’s Park. The annual festival, which showcases the best of modern art and film, is happening this year from October 16-19 and is set to be bigger than ever. The Sirkus project, masterminded by the Icelandic art collective Kling & Bang, wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Iceland’s low-cost carrier Iceland Express. The original facade of the bar will be transported to Regent’s Park for an authentic Icelandic experience, and filled with the art and music that made it famous.

The Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, now entering it’s tenth year, is a unique festival experience that winds through Reykjavík’s streets every October. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the festival, which has hosted bands such as Bloc Party and the Kaiser Chiefs in the past, Airwaves is coming to the streets of East London for one night only on September 19. Featuring live music from a great mix of up-and-coming British bands and established Icelandic artists, it’s sure to be a fantastic night.

Fancy sampling Airwaves for yourself in its original setting? Get in quickly as you’ve only got two months before it kicks off, but if you want to sample some of Reykjavík’s famous cultural highlights and nightlife at a slightly less frenetic pace then a Reykjavík City Break might be just the tonic, complete with a host of optional excursions and extended breaks. Until then, head to London this autumn for an insight into a truly extraordinary culture.