Crucial City Council grant for Festival of Chichester

This year’s Festival of Chichester has received a perfectly timed boost in the shape of a £2,500 discretionary grant from Chichester City Council.
This year’s festival will run from June 12 to July 11This year’s festival will run from June 12 to July 11
This year’s festival will run from June 12 to July 11

The money, agreed by the City Council’s community affairs committee, will be used for publicity for this year’s festival which will run from June 12 to July 11, offering a mix of live and online events.

Festival chairman Phil Hewitt said: “Chichester City Council have always been wonderful friends to the Festival of Chichester. It was actually in the council chamber that the festival was born when we held a public meeting to see if there was interest, back in October 2012, in setting up a new festival for the city.

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“There most certainly was, and we are thrilled at the way the festival has continued to develop ever since, particularly this year with our fantastic brand-new website – a project superbly overseen by the festival’s very own Simon O’Hea. But the lovely thing is that whatever we have done, Chichester City Council has been right behind us. They understand precisely what we are trying to do – and they have consistently been incredibly generous to us.”

Councillor Clare Apel, chairman of Chichester City Council’s community affairs committee, added: “The Festival of Chichester is really important to the City of Chichester.

“The committee and I feel it is so important to support the great work the festival does. It is especially important this summer as this last year has been so stressful and difficult for so many people. The festival and all it does for Chichester will lift people’s spirits which is important.”

The money comes at a crucial time, as festival co-ordinator Barry Smith explains: “As the country bounces back from pandemic restrictions, the Festival of Chichester returns with a bang!

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“A month long programme of exciting events is planned – live, virtual and outdoors – running from June 12 to July 11.

“There will be a fantastic choice of entertainment, ranging from classical concerts to rock gigs to book talks with famous authors, comedy, theatre, exhibitions, live-streaming shows, walks and tours and much more.

“We’ve put the call-out for event entries and lots are coming in but there’s still time for previous or new event organisers to join in the fun. It’s easy to enter, whether you’d like to put on a one-person show, mount a major concert, stage a play or exhibition or showcase the talents of your group. We’re aiming to have the box office launch in May, so now’s the time to log onto our website and complete the simple online application. The festival is also looking to join forces with local businesses to promote the city with a colourful shop window competition where businesses can showcase their wares while celebrating the fun of the festival. The competition is being promoted by Chichester BID and a celebrity judge will select the winners on Friday, June 11.”

Submit your entry through festivalofchichester.co.uk.

The virtual box office launch will be from 1830 to 1900 on Friday 7 May. This event will be held on Zoom. Anyone wishing to attend should contact [email protected]

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