We are pleased to announce that our flagship event has been awarded funding from the Arts Council England – helping them to achieve their mission of offering great arts and culture to everyone.

Life, Death (and the Rest) running from Thursday 22nd of February to the 25th of February is our annual 4 day event of talks, walks, theatre and film that supports a growing social movement talking about death, and how we remember our loved ones.

There will be the opportunity to come to a Death Cafe where people drink tea, eat cake and discuss death. Join in with one of our fascinating Morbid Curiosity  tours, or learn about Memorial Tattoos with Dr John Troyer. Carla Valentine, mortician and friend of Arnos Vale, is back. She was recently interviewed by the BBC World Service about her Dead Meet Dating site and wedding at the Cemetery last October. This time she’s here to talk about our relationship with human remains and why she advocates public display, interaction with the deceased and activities in graveyards.

Film and theatre form an important part of the festival and we will be welcoming the nationally acclaimed ‘The Many Doors of Frank Feelbad’ by Bootworks Theatre. An intimate and interactive performance based around bereavement, specifically for younger audiences aged 4 and over, on Saturday 24 February at 2pm and 4pm. Also The Death Show the perfect opportunity to celebrate your own mortality, laugh, cry, stick two fingers up at the grim reaper and discover why talking about death is ultimately life affirming.

Take a look here for our 6 Things to See and Do during the festival, or download the Life, Death (& the Rest) brochure 2018

In 2017, Arnos Vale’s efforts were recognised nationally when we were  listed as a finalist in the Good Funeral Awards 2017.