Famous faces coming to Newport

Photos of David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Amy Winehouse are all coming to Newport as part of a display showing the history of the Isle of Wight Festival

Author: Michael SmithPublished 12th Oct 2023

The Experience exhibition is now being shown at 64 High Street, showcasing around 100 photos, posters and other memorabilia highlighting the last 21 years of the Isle of Wight Festival since it returned in 2002.

Shots from local photographers and official band photos, such as the Rolling Stones, are on display.

The exhibition was first shown at Freshwater’s Dimbola Museum and Gallery earlier in the year and was the idea of festival organiser John Giddings, who is also a trustee of the Julia Margaret Cameron Trust which runs Dimbola.

It will be shown in Newport until November 10, raising funds for the trust, and will return in May next year, over the summer and festival period.

John thanked Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council for hosting the event, saying it was good for the town, the festival and the Island, as not enough is made of the musical heritage of the IW.

He said it was only the start and they hope to add to the exhibition.


Famous faces coming to Newport
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Creative director of Experience, Jo Macaulay, said it was a real privilege to build the exhibition and hopes Islanders and visitors will come and remember the amazing times spent at Seaclose Park in the last 21 years.

She thanked Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox who helped put the wheels in motion to move the exhibition to Newport.

Jo is asking for volunteers to help out at the exhibition, answering questions and taking payments for the limited edition prints and merchandise that will be on sale.

The money from the sales will go to the Julia Margaret Cameron Trust.

Cllr Andrew Garratt, chair of the community council, said the festival has an iconic place in Island history and in Newport as its modern-day host.

He hoped the exhibition would be a chance to dive into the festival’s history and appreciate the photographers who documented events and those who designed posters and other materials.

The event is sponsored by Solo, Barclaycard, Isle of Wight County Press, The Daisie Rich Trust, The Price is Wight, Wightlink, Briddlesford Farm, Signpost Express, Isle of Wight Distillery, Goodards Brewery and Wight Karting.

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