A THREE-week arts festival featuring music, comedy, theatre and exhibitions is set to start this week.

The Durham Festival of the Arts, which runs from Friday, June 1 to June 25 is organised by Music Durham and Durham Student Theatre.

The festival is hosting dozens of events, including music, opera, theatre, comedy and workshops.

It kicks off with a concert at Durham Cathedral on Friday, which will include music from Durham University’s Orchestral Society, Chamber Choir, and acapella group Northern Lights.

The repertoire for the evening is inspired by the supernatural, magic and myths.

On Saturday, the music will move outside for a free concert on Palace Green. Brass bands, concert bands, barbershop choirs, world music groups and cheerleaders will provide entertainment between 10am and 4pm and there will also be food stalls, face painting and family activities.

Other events will include a free community brass day at St Oswald’s Institute on Church Street on Saturday, June 2, between 10am and 1pm, a number of concerts at Durham Cathedral and a stage production of the IT Crowd at the Assembly Rooms, in North Bailey.

An art and photography exhibition is being staged at the Pemberton Rooms, in Palace Green, which will showcase some of Durham’s best artists and photographers. It will feature paintings, sketches and digital art, as well as photographs from around the world.

The free exhibition is open from June 14-16, between 4pm and 9pm.

For further details of all events and to book tickets visit www.dfoa.co.uk/tickets.