THE third annual Swindon Think Art Festival will be held next month.

The event will feature a large exhibition by local artists in the Brunel Centre, more art displayed in pubs across the town and various art-themed family events, and will run from Thursday June 5 to Sunday, June 29.

The festival is backed by Swindon Arts, which in turn is heavily backed by the council.

And director Rosa Matheson believes it will be the most successful yet.

She said: "The idea is to get people thinking about art in different ways that's why we put on lots of different types of activities.

"People are encouraged to participate, and hopefully they will take that ethos away with them and it will influence them for the rest of the year when they are thinking about art."

The best-known aspect of the festival is the Nationwide Think Art Prize Exhibition, an open competition for all local artists, which is supported by the Swindon-based financial services company.

A £250 prize will go to the winner, with a £50 award for the runner-up.

Last year's winner, Ryszard Gagola, produced an ambitious painting exploring the detailed landscape of Swindon, in a contest whose theme was Old and New.

He beat about 70 other entrants for the prize.

This year's theme is Work and Play.

Application forms will shortly be available in public buildings throughout Swindon, as well as the Wyvern Theatre.

Other planned events will include an evening at the King's Hotel in Old Town which will be devoted to people explaining to an audience why they should love or hate certain works of art.

There will also be an open art session in which people will be able to help paint posters for the festival.

Details will be available as soon as they are confirmed on Swindon 463197 and, from next week, at www.swindonarts.org.uk

There is more news from the world of art in today's issue of OUT!, your free entertainments guide