The Isle of Man Art Festival is to take place in April and May.

The celebration of visual art is in its sixth year and is designed to inspire local artists, with access to studios, exhibitions, workshops and demonstrations.

It will take place on April 29 to 30 and May 1, the May Day bank holiday.

Its official opening will be held at Noa Bakehouse in Douglas on Thursday, April 20, at 6pm.

Opened by the former President of Tynwald, Clare Christian, patron of the Isle of Man Arts Council, the launch will include an audio-visual display of last year’s festival events and an introduction to artists contributing this year.

Myra Gilbert of the Creative Network said: ’The 2016 festival attracted more than 1,000 visitors, with unanimously positive feedback from visitors and participating artists alike. Last year we took the leap from being based primarily in Peel and the west to being an island-wide event.

’This proved to be a great success, and we expect the festival to keep on growing each year. This year we have extended north and south to include new venues such as the airport, Castletown Civic Centre, The Hub in Port Erin and Silverburn, Sulby.’

Other venues for exhibitions and artist demonstrations include the House of Manannan in Peel, the Sayle Gallery in Douglas, and the Hodgson Loom Gallery in Laxey.

More than 40 artists are participating, spanning a huge range of disciplines including painting, illustration, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, print-making and photography.

As usual, visitors will be able to get involved in a whole range of creative activities, including workshops based on textile art, fabric design and wearable art run by the Sayle Gallery and artist Alice Fayle, Artist in Residence at the Youth Arts Centre.

The Isle of Man Art Festival is organised by The Creative Network, an artists’ cooperative with the shared aim of promoting art and artists.

The network is backed by the Isle of Man Arts Council, Manx National Heritage, Peel Commissioners and partner galleries.

Entrance to studios, demonstrations and exhibition venues for the full three days will be by purchase of a festival passport at £5.

It is free for under-17s.

All venues will be open between 11am and 5pm each day.

Festival passports will be available from three weeks in advance of the festival at venues including Noa Bakehouse and the Sea Terminal Welcome Centre in Douglas, the House of Manannan in Peel and all major art galleries, as well as festival venues during the event.