By the Community… for the Community
Chorlton Arts Festival was launched in May 2001 as a not-for-profit, week-long celebration of the arts in South Manchester. It had three guiding principles; to provide a platform for local artists, to provide opportunities for our local children to experience the arts and finally to provide high quality events, free of charge or for a low cost.
The first festival had 25 events over six days. Since then the Festival has grown steadily, under the guidance of an outstanding team of people, and annually attracts in excess of 25,000 people. This year’s programme has over 120 events over 11 days and a schools programme enabling over 5000 children to experience the arts.
It is a programme that celebrates the past ten years by building on an impressive legacy and looking to the future.
That’s not bad going for an idea that developed over a late-night bottle of wine between Hilary Barber, then Rector of St Clement’s Church and former Chair of the Festival, Cllr Val Stevens and Ed Wylie, Deputy Head at what is now Chorlton High School. The original team wanted to launch an event that would contribute to social cohesion and the sustainability of Chorlton as a community.
Since that time the programme had grown substantially and the Festival is now a permanent fixture in the Greater Manchester arts calendar, attracting praise from Arts Council England, Manchester City Council and the national media. The appointment of a Festival Director and Administrator, expansion of the management team and the recruitment of a high profile Chair and Patrons have all aided this growth. The programme has also featured internationally-known headline acts such as Jacqui Dankworth and Courtney Pine, which have raised the profile of Chorlton well outside Greater Manchester.
However, the real stars have always been our volunteers, venues and artists, who provide their time and skills free of charge, enabling the Festival to highlight and celebrate the creativity of this wonderful community. This is absolutely at the heart of what the Festival founders set out to achieve and what a community arts festival should be about. Hilary, Val and Ed, thank you for your vision; that bottle of wine has gone a very long way.
The Festival Team
A message from Chorlton Arts Festival’s Chair
I am sure you’ll agree this year’s programme provides a fitting way to celebrate ten years of amazing performances at the Chorlton Arts Festival.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fiona Stuart for all her hard work, good humour and enthusiasm, as Festival Director in the last five years and for helping to take the Festival forward. We send her our best wishes in her new role with the Lichfield Festival.
It’s a pleasure to welcome Philip Hannaway, as Director of the Festival. He is, as you will see, committed to producing a wide-ranging programme. The Festival continues to focus on free events, thought provoking and exhilarating performances and, of course, provides a platform for the wealth of talent right here in Chorlton itself.
My thanks also go to all the artists who have devoted their talents and their time, and to the festival team for their dedication and hard work in bringing you the tenth Chorlton Arts Festival, I hope you enjoy it.
The Rt. Hon. Lord Keith Bradley
CHORLTON ARTS RADIO
This year Chorlton Arts Radio in association with Chorlton Arts Festival will be broadcasting throughout the festival with interviews, reviews, performances and the best in new music. All programming will be undertaken by volunteers from the local community under the guidance of the community group team, giving local people, rather than radio professionals, a chance to be on air and learn radio skills.
10X10 FILM FESTIVAL
To celebrate the tenth Chorlton Arts Festival we’ll be showing some of the best films of the last decade as voted for by you. Films will be shown at St. Clement’s Church Hut.
Voting has now closed – watch this space to find out the winners!
GREETING CARD COMPETITION
pad return this year with our annual Chorlton Arts Festival Design a Greeting Card competition. Simply enter an image that you think would make a great greeting card, be it a photograph, painting or drawing – get creative and let your imagination run wild! Drop off your entry at pad before 5pm on Saturday 29 May. The winner will receive a framed copy of their design and also see their card put into production and sold at pad. Please ensure you complete an entry form when dropping off your design.
FLASHLIGHT
We’re lighting up Chorlton with 1000 paper lanterns and want you to help!
Artists’ group BREAD create works which gently ask you to stop for a moment and take in your surroundings in the hope that you’ll notice something new. This time we’re attempting landscape intervention by flash-mob!
find out more here »