exclusive: new festival launched for West Sussex

Two of the ladies who helped establish the Big Chill, co-founder Katrina Larkin and creative producer Victoria Burns are launching a new festival, Nova, described as a re-imagining of the great British festival experience.

Katrina and Victoria are no longer working on The Big Chill festival. However, they have joined forces to create Nova, a small intimate, independent arts festival held for four days from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th July 2012 in the valley and gardens of a West Sussex estate at Bignor Park in Pulborough.

There are no acts confirmed yet for 2012. Nova intends to provide a platform for break-through new music alongside well known favourites.

Nova's Gates will open on Thursday 5th July at 2pm for early bird to settle with the festival village, and more attractions opening on Friday.

Nova will have it's own pub, The Nova Arms offering a medley of pub entertainment, there's also an outdoor cinema, and the headling Zen Garden offering therapies and hot tubs, and more.

Throughout the day and into late evening there will be foraging, campfire cooking sessions and music, bat walks, strange guided tours, night-time illuminations, bonfires and musical treats.

Plus a Super-Nova DJ Bar woffering cocktails and DJs. The Fearless Theatre offers comedy, cabaret and theatre. There is also The Public Art Studios where festival goers creations will be displayed in the People's Gallery.

There's even a chance to join the village choir, have a Tea Dance and a cuppa, watch music and curios on a little lake stage, or engage the mind in lively debates, authors talks, readings and spoken word performance.

For children there's entertainment in The Land of The Bumbley Boo.

The on-site bars will offer local liquor, ciders, ales and champagne, as well as cocktails. There will also be an array of hand picked stalls, and places to picnic.

Tickets will go on sale tomorrow, Tuesday 15 November. A limited number of early bird weekend tickets are priced at £80. Once these are sold, there will become additional reduced price tickets at £100. All remaining weekend tickets thereafter will be at £139 for adults, £100 for students, teen tickets (aged 13-17 years) are priced at £60, and children aged under 12 can attend for free.

To buy tickets when available, click here.

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