The Mayor of Woodstock, Jill Dunsmore, will open the fifth Art in Woodstock festival at noon on Saturday, unveiling a Mini car displaying the winning design in a competition organised and sponsored by the North Oxford Garage, in which children from five to 14 were invited to produce a roof and bonnet design. The children’s entries will be on display in the Town Hall.

Art in Woodstock runs from Saturday until October 30, showcasing work by visiting professional artists and local talent. Fifty local, national and international artists will be exhibiting work, transforming the town into a celebration of visual arts. Fine art, abstract and contemporary work, sculpture and installations will be seen throughout the town in a host of venues: churches, hotels, restaurants, shops, The Oxfordshire Museum and the Town Hall.

There will be a public art space on the town square for adults and children to enjoy — The Blackboard Jungle, sponsored by Henmans — art workshops in the Oxfordshire Museum and the local schools exhibition in the Town Hall, as well as the speaker evenings throughout the week in various venues. There is also artwork being produced live throughout the festival by The Plein Art Society.

American abstract artist Jeffrey Kroll will be exhibiting, including some new pieces, in the Oxfordshire Museum. Exhibiting in the museum with Jeffrey are Sofia Koudalakidou and Rodney Salter. Rodney’s impressive abstract sculptures in marble, stone, resin and bronze will be on show in the museum garden. Sofia Koudalakidou is an established Greek artist working in Germany. This is the first time her work has been seen in the UK.

Matt Coburn, a local Woodstock artist, has been invited back to Art in Woodstock following his first ever exhibition with the festival in 2007. Since then he has exhibited throughout the country.

This year’s speakers are Dr Ramina Jamerez, the BBC arts presenter, speaking on Icons and Symbolism; Jeffrey Kroll on 20th-century abstract art; Tom Freshwater, on Trust New Art, a three-year project between the Arts Council and The National Trust; Peter Forsaith, the curator of the Methodist Church collection of modern art; and children’s TV and radio presenter Arabella Warner.

Visit www.artinwoodstock.com for more information.