The hilltop resort of Ventnor on the Isle of Wight’s most southerly tip is transformed every summer as a ten day festival of comedy, music, film and art takes over the town, doubling its population.
Dubbed “one of the most inspirational multi-disciplinary festivals” in the country, this year it celebrated record-breaking attendances. But it’s quite possible that you’ve never heard of Ventnor Fringe.
As the British Arts Festivals Association’s (BAFA) new state of the sector report shows, arts festivals of all shapes and colours transform villages, towns and urban areas across Britain every year.
Those in our survey last year staged more than 11,000 events the length and breadth of the country. They attract a total of more than 5.5m attendances (ticketed and unticketed) to in-person events and more than 100,000 to online events.
Relatively invisible
Arts festivals are a critical part of our national arts ecology. Respondent festivals last year engaged a total of 34,000 ensembles and individual artists. They provide a vital platform and audiences for new artistic output and, last year alone, programmed 2,700 new works, commissions or premieres. Classical music makes up the most commonly programmed artform (54%) followed by poetry (48%) and folk music (45%).
These are no mean achievements and yet, for all their combined might and rightful place within our arts infrastructure – providing opportunities for artistic development, collaboration and experimentation and supporting the development of Britain’s largely freelance creative workforce – arts festivals remain relatively invisible, for a simple reason.
Many are fundamentally hyperlocal events run by dedicated arts organisations intrinsically rooted in place – and that’s the real story told by the Festivals Forward report, produced on our behalf by BOP Consulting.
Below the radar
As the report shows, more than 40% of festival audiences live within a five-mile radius – virtually on the doorstep – and, with few exceptions, festivals themselves operate far below the national radar.
They are deeply connected to their local areas, not just through the 6,350 volunteering opportunities they provide but through the outreach that 86% of arts festivals deliver to schools and other local communities – much of it as part of year-round programmes rather than simply at festival time.
They are urban as well as local, with 61% of arts festivals taking place in urban settings rather than the village halls or marquees of rural Britain. They typically run for five days each year (most are annual) and use multiple venues – theatres, pubs and churches -to stage events in the towns and cities they call home because they lack their own permanent bases, the report shows.
Major money problems
Festivals Forward is a ‘warts and all’ report which goes beyond simple profiling of the arts festivals sector to send a warning to us all: The fact that arts festivals punch far above their weight belies a genuine, and deep, financial precarity.
The report’s phrase is “surviving, not thriving”. Public investment helps some festivals deliver their activity – equating to an average of 25% of income for those who get it – but still there are major money problems.
Most festivals’ income has stayed static or reduced since 2019 and, according to the report, many organisations are simply “hanging on”. (In 2023, festivals spent more than they made, with the average income sitting at around £225k while average expenditure was around £245k.)
There are developmental challenges as well financial struggles, with many festivals needing additional support on integration and implementation of environmental responsibility and equality, diversity and inclusion agendas.
In other words, most of our arts festivals are alive and kicking – for now – but their future is bleak unless we take radical action. As report’s authors conclude: “Without additional support and investment – both fiscally and developmentally – the sector is at risk of both the reduction and loss of many iconic festivals.”
Fundamental rethink
They make a compelling case for investing in arts festivals and say that “a properly supported festivals sector would create a wider ripple effect both into the places and the local communities that festivals serve and the artistic infrastructure that festivals underpin through commissions, artist development, touring and creative collaborations”.
At BAFA, we echo these words, and go further to call for a fundamental rethink of the role arts festivals play in today’s Britain so we can develop the kind of vision able to inspire the investment that BOP talks about.
Thriving festivals can act as advocates for their sector, supporting other festivals through best practice learning and increased visibility for the continued importance of the sector in the wider UK cultural sector and beyond.
They are powerhouses of creativity, championing a culture of innovation through the development of new work, providing artists with platforms to innovate and create through new collaborations. However, their under-recognised superpower lies closer to home.
No change is not an option
As catalysts for imagination and local hubs of creativity, they can deliver even more to the communities in which they operate, both through the events they deliver and through the year-round outreach which so many provide.
Under a government committed to building 1.5m homes, arts festivals have a natural placemaking role to play by animating and connecting communities, new and old, and by inspiring pride and local identity because it’s what they already do.
They have potential to develop new relationships with their local authorities and contribute to agendas on everything from social prescribing to social justice to attract public funding from places where it may still be available.
As Festivals Forward shows, arts festivals are in a difficult place right now – no change is not an option. By rethinking their place in the world and building on their greatest strengths – their contribution to the wider arts ecology and their hyperlocal status – we can put them on a firmer footing and make sure they thrive, as well as survive.
Advertisement
Halo, sobat pencinta slot! Pernah denger istilah “slot demo”? Kalau tidak, siap-siap jatuh cinta sama program ini. slot gacor merupakan mesin slots yang selalu memberi win. Ya, slot-slot ini bisa disebut adalah andalannya buat bawa pulang hasil. tapi, cemana sih
tekniknya jumpain slot gacor yang benar? Santai Bro, kita bahas tenang saja di sini
Game tergacor waktu sekarang satu-satunya di Indonesia yaitu akan menyediakan return terbesar
Daftarkanlah di:
Informasi mengenai KING SLOT, Segera Daftar Bersama king selot terbaik dan terpercaya no satu di Indonesia. Boleh mendaftar melalui sini king slot serta memberikan hasil kembali yang paling tinggi saat sekarang ini hanyalah KING SLOT paling gacor, gilak dan gaco saat sekarang di Indonesia melalui program return tinggi di kingselot serta pg king slot
asn88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://asn88.net/
anjir88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://anjir88.asia/
albaslot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://albaslot88.asia/
air88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://air88.bio/
air88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://air88.asia/
vavaslot888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://vavaslot888.org/
vavaslot888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://vavaslot888.net/
oborslot888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://oborslot888.org/
oborslot888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://oborslot888.net/
duniaslot777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://duniaslot777a.org/
ayukbet88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://ayukbet88.org/
ayukbet88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://ayukbet88.net/
j888slot permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://j888slot.org/
klikdewa88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://klikdewa88.net/
klikdewa88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://klikdewa88.com/
klikbet777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://klikbet777.info/
klikbet777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://klikbet777.asia/
gemoyslot999 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://gemoyslot999.net/
seroja888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://seroja888.net/
seroja888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://seroja888.com/
hoka88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://hoka88.asia/
dutaslot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dutaslot88.com/
buaya88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://buaya88.asia/
buaya777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://buaya777.asia/
zonavegas88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://zonavegas88.net/
tongtoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://tongtoto88.org/
tongtoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://tongtoto88.net/
sista999 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://sista999.org/
mbokslot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://mbokslot88.org/
mbokslot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://mbokslot88.net/
pg king slot permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://pgkingslot.org/
holywing88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://holywing88.asia/
bolagila88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bolagila88.asia/
dewalive88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dewalive88.biz/
kputoto888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kputoto888.net/
vio777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://vio777.asia/
nix777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://nix777.net/
nego88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://nego88.net/
nego777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://nego777.com/
marjan899 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://marjan899.com/
marjan888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://marjan888.com/
gcr88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://gcr88.org/
bosku77 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bosku77.asia/
gaco88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://gaco88.asia/
dijual88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dijual88.com/
dijual88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dijual88.net/
saritoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://saritoto88.com/
gege888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://gege888.net/
exa88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://exa88.org/
dower888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dower888.org/
bos888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bos888.info/
badabest888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://badabest888.com/
ayamjago888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://ayamjago888.net/
vviavi88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://vviavi88.com/
sydneycuan88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://sydneycuan88.com/
gotocuan88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://gotocuan88.com/
bank88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bank88.asia/
agenplay888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://agenplay888.com/
satelittogel88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://satelittogel88.net/
hiutoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://hiutoto88.net/
hiutoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://hiutoto88.com/
kedai88slot permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kedai88slot.biz/
nova12 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://nova12.net/
piktoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://piktoto88.net/
zeuswin888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://zeuswin888.com/
zoom88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://zoom88.info/
asg88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://asg88.org/
azkabet88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://azkabet88.net/
becak88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://becak88.biz/
besitoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://besitoto88.com/
bethoki88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bethoki88.biz/
bibit88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bibit88.biz/
bibit88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bibit88.info/
bolago888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bolago888.net/
boswin777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://boswin777.biz/
cafe88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://cafe88.info/
cinta88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://cinta88.biz/
coki888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://coki888.com/
cumi88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://cumi88.com/
cumitoto permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://cumitoto.com/
darma888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://darma888.org/
dewagacor888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dewagacor888.net/
engkol888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://engkol888.info/
garasislot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://garasislot88.biz/
harumtoto permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://harumtoto.org/
indo788 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://indo788.net/
jenitoto permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://jenitoto.com/
joker18 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://joker18.net/
juliet88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://juliet88.net/
jumbototo88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://jumbototo88.com/
kaostogel88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kaostogel88.net/
kaskus88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kaskus88.biz/
kawin777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kawin777.biz/
kinggacor88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kinggacor88.com/
koboislot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://koboislot88.net/
kputoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kputoto88.net/
ribo888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://ribo888.biz/
kripto888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kripto888.biz/
lebah77 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://lebah77.asia/
lebah7777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://lebah7777.com/
legend888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://legend888.info/
