THE Purbeck Art Weeks (PAW) Festival gets underway with a grand opening event at Swanage seafront at the end of May.

This launch party will include music, dance, children from local schools, flags, processions, a new brass festival band and the unveiling of a special fish ceramic panel.

Then, the following evening PAW's opening concert takes place at The Swanage School.

Billed as a 'celebration of international peace', this concert from US string sextet Cuatro Puntos includes music from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.

Cuatro Puntos will perform music especially written by Dorset-based composer Sadie Harrison.

Richard Brown, PAW spokesman, said: "We are proud to host this first concert in a European tour by Cuatro Puntos.

"This will be a very special evening offering insights into the lives of those in some of the most hostile, war-torn environments in the world today.

"It will be a celebration of the cross-cultural and uniting power of music."

Rollington Barn, near Corfe Castle, will showcase exhibitions every day of the 16-day festival, which has more than 100 artists taking part and has 'Midsummer Dreams' as its theme this year.

A map on the door will also lead visitors to more than 40 artist studios across the district, which will be opened up for public view.

Among the other acts, performing at selected venues throughout the fortnight, will be The Fieri Consort, Stile Antico - celebrating Shakespeare's 400th birthday with vocal music - and Inner City Brass.

A festival spokesman explained: "Illustrated talks will also cover the lives of some Dorset artists, Dunshay Manor and warn-torn Aleppo.

"In keeping with our Midsummer Dreams theme we will show the historic star-studded 1935 film A Midsummer Night's Dream.

"Purbeck poetry is aired, Dorset Words Take Wing with folk songs and readings, and there is a Colourful Partnerships evening with young musicians and community groups."

The festival launch party, at Swanage seafront, is set for Friday, May 27, from 4-7pm. All are welcome to attend.

Then the PAW festival runs at selected venues across Purbeck, May 28 -June 12.

Visit purbeckartweeks.co.uk to book tickets or form more information.