C-ART is back - bigger and better than ever.

Running from September 8-17, Eden Arts' innovative countywide festival of contemporary art returns next month with a new format.

Included in the festival frame for 2017 will be 152 artists in 60 places in a programme that includes the big C-Art exhibition at Rheged, the widest reaching Art in Extraordinary Places yet - from Walney to Carlisle - the new Art Fair plus festival favourite, Open Studios.

The new approach for 2017’s creative gathering features both international and nationally renowned artists such as the UK’s Lone Twin, and Captain Boomer from Belgium, whose work has been described by cultural icon Lemn Sissay as "the best piece of street theatre I’ve ever seen, and it’s not even in the street."

Already deemed as one of the biggest visual rural arts projects in the UK, C-Art organisers Eden Arts have been working to grow this year’s programme so that it stars an even wider range of contemporary work. The Penrith-based arts organisation's mission to champion contemporary arts in Cumbria has been boosted by a new four year funding agreement with Arts Council England to help develop C-Art.

So, new for this year Lone Twin with Beastie, a mythical creature made real by children’s imaginations that will be at Rheged on September 16-17.

American folk singer Joan Shelley returns to Cumbria as part of a UK Tour and performs an intimate gig at the C-Art Soirée at Brunswick Yard, Penrith, on Saturday, September 16. The soiree is a ticketed event that will act as a festival closing party for visitors and participating artists. Tickets available at c-art.org.uk/events/c-art-soiree.

Another highlight promises to be Charlie Whinney and his intriguingly titled Man Bends Tree project. People can drop into his Witherslack studio to view his work and the woodlands from which he takes his materials (September 8-17).

The festival gets off to a flying start at Rheged from September 8, with the C-Art Cumbrian Artist of the Year Awards and Exhibition, followed by more special events across the following 10 days.

The exhibition runs until November 5 (open daily 10am-5pm) and features incredible contemporary art across all media from traditional painting and sculpture to contemporary video installation and photography, with a number of guest artists joining the submitted entries.

Eden Arts director Adrian Lochhead said the team had been working hard all year behind the scenes.

"We've been creating a new approach to the C-Art programme, building on the incredible success that C-Art has had during the last seven years, seeing hundreds of thousands of visitors to Cumbria to share our incredible artists in incredible landscape.

"The additional support from the Arts Council has been crucial in us being able to programme more widely, creating an arts and culture festival of excellence truly with something for everyone."

"It’s important to show off the wealth of Cumbrian creativity.

"I think we should issue a special prize to whoever is able to get around the whole thing. In fact, I think we will do just that - that’s a challenge."

The special events programme also includes Lowthermere - hundreds of feet deep beneath Rheged with Belgian artists Collective Captain Boomer, fresh from escapades in Paris and at the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival.

Also at Rheged is Adult Youth Club with Katie Hale on September 16-17 (2pm-5pm); local poet and writer Katie invites participants in a spoken word event as C-Art transforms Rheged’s Mountain Hall into a laid back lounge.

Elsewhere at Furness, the Razzle Dazzle Hides of South Walney Nature Reserve by Art Gene are an important stop-over for migrating birds. The bespoke hides designed by Art Gene reflect the ship-building heritage of Barrow and are a new concept modular prefabricated de-mountable wildlife watching hide design. The highly imaginative Art Gene has a long history of producing outstanding work that reflects, celebrates, and records the often neglected Furness and Barrow as well as undertaking projects nationally.

The Art in Extraordinary Places programme has plenty to get excited about too.

Featured is a trip on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in search of Sarah Taylor’s vibrant and eccentric animals that have unexpectedly taken up residence along the route (September 8-24).

Discover the alchemy of Karen Guthrie artist in residence at the National Trust’s Acorn Bank as she creates a scent-rich exhibition inspired by Acorn Bank’s extensive gardens and plant collections.

And against the stunning backdrop of Fleetwith Pike and the Northern Fells Terry Hawkins, artist-in-residence at Honister Slate Mine, has created two must see stunning site specific pieces (September 15-17, from 10am-5pm).

Jocelyn McGregor’s monstrous sculptural landscapes based upon a fragmented female form are sited at the former Second World War gunpowder factory at the Merz Barn, Elterwater (September 15-17).

Also in on the C-Art act is The Old Courthouse, at Shap, which hosts the Highlights Rural touring show Luminosity, an exciting exhibition based upon the theme of light featuring film, projection, electronics, paper, sculpture and glass (September 15-22, 10am-5pm)

Of course, one of the most popular aspects of C-Art is the Artists Open Studios, running from September 8-17, celebrating and bringing together the creative talents and diversity of the area in an open studio trail of artists and designers across the artistically abundant county.

In 2016, the open studios event saw more than 25,000 visitors drop into 81 venues, raising £78,480 in sales for local artists.

For the full programme visit www.c-art.org.uk.