HEREFORD is celebrating its blacksmithing heritage with a new event in the city centre.

Ferrous 2017, which starts on October 20, will see the city centre come alive with the sights and sounds of six hot metal forges as blacksmiths and members of the public gather to create bespoke artwork.

Development of the event has been spearheaded by Georgia Smith, strategy lead at Hereford BID and Del Done, course leader for Artist Blacksmithing at Hereford College of Arts, who have teamed up to create an array of activities in the city centre from Have a Go Forging to internationally acclaimed exhibitions.

The event, which is part of Hereford BID’s business plan, promises to deliver a major new event for the city.

Ferrous 2017 aims to attract thousands of visitors to the city over the weekend from October 20 to 22 to participate in the activities and offers BID businesses the chance to get involved in different ways.

John Jones, chairman of Hereford BID, said: “We looked at all sorts of ideas for an event but this concept leaped out at us.

"It’s hugely visual with the live forging in High Town.

"It’s rooted in Hereford’s traditional skills and yet has a really contemporary appeal to men and women, young and old, whether you want to just look or whether you aspire to own pieces such as those on display.

"Hereford BID’s partnership with the art college is proving to be rewarding in so many ways and this year’s event will, we hope, be the first of many collaborations.”

There will be Have a Go Forging in aid of St Michael’s Hospice in High Town during the weekend and the public has the opportunity to try blacksmithing by creating a Gingko leaf, which will be part of the bench commissioned by Ferrous 2017 from leading artist blacksmith, Ambrose Burne.

The bench is destined for the garden at St Michael’s Hospice and will be on show in High Town as it is made over the weekend of the event.

To book your place go to: www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk/event/ferrous.

An exhibition will take place in Hereford Cathedral from October 20 to November 13 with a major international exhibition of contemporary forged ironwork on the theme of transition, exploring a range of themes connected with the First World War.

And there will be a Forge Exhibition in Hereford Art Gallery, Broad Street, from October 20 to November 13 featuring 15 internationally renowned metal artists, celebrating a heritage of innovation and claiming a place for contemporary forged metal here in Hereford today.

Abigail Appleton, principal of Hereford College of Arts, added: “We are hugely proud to be able to showcase some of the amazing talent that exists in Herefordshire, and especially to make it so visible in the city centre.

"This event is capable of growing into something of world importance as internationally acclaimed artists are attracted to Hereford to participate in the event year on year.

"We have also achieved another first for the college by winning Arts Council England National Lottery support for Ferrous 2017, by working in partnership with Hereford BID and the businesses in Hereford city centre."

A pop-up exhibition trail in businesses all around Hereford city centre will take place between October 20 to November 13, with an art trail of historic and contemporary metal work.

There will also be a Metal Market Place in High Town from October 20 to 22 with a range of stalls selling and taking commissions for forged metal pieces, which you could select for your home, office or garden.

There will also be activities for all ages throughout the weekend.

For more information go to www.herefordcitylife.co.uk/ferrous2017 or follow them on Facebook @Ferrous2017, Twitter #Ferrous2017 and Instagram #Ferrous2017

The full event programme will be available from businesses in Hereford city centre from the end of September.