1987
The Adur Festival was established as an annual celebration of arts and community in the Adur district of West Sussex.
About the Festival
The Adur Festival was a beloved annual celebration of arts and community in the Adur district of West Sussex. For nearly three decades, it brought together residents and visitors to experience visual arts, music, theatre, literature, dance, and more. This website chronicles the festival's rich history, its significance to the community, and explores the potential for its revival.
Origins and Early History
Early Years
For over two decades, the festival took place in the first two weeks of June each year, quickly becoming a fixture of the local cultural calendar.
1990s-2000s
The festival grew steadily in scope and popularity. By the 2000s, it featured hundreds of events across towns like Shoreham, Lancing, Sompting, and Southwick during its fortnight-long run.
2008
The 21st Adur Festival included a two-day Sompting Arts & Beer Festival, art exhibitions in Shoreham's historic churches, and live entertainment in town centers.
2012
Adur District Council decided that continuing to solely fund the festival was "unsustainable" amid tightening budgets.
2013
The Ropetackle Arts Trust took over coordination of the festival, transitioning to a mixed-funding model.
2016
The last full Adur Festival was held, after which it faced funding challenges and leadership transitions.
2017
The festival took a "pause" and has been dormant since, though interest in revival has persisted in the community.
Notable Past Events and Themes
Over its history, the Adur Festival hosted a wide variety of events and creative themes that engaged residents of all ages. Each year often carried a unifying theme to inspire participants.
Festival Themes
2014: "Strange Creatures" Theme
2015: "Food of Love" Theme
Street Parties in Shoreham, Lancing, and Southwick
Community Workshops and Performances
Signature Events
The festival was known for its diverse programming, including:
- Art exhibitions in historic churches and community spaces
- Live music performances from local and visiting artists
- Theatre shows and stand-up comedy
- Family activity days and creative workshops
- Guided history walks highlighting local heritage
- Street parties with carnival parades
- World Oceans Day "Environment Festival" on Shoreham Beach
- International Neighbours Day celebrating cultural diversity
- Beer festivals and pop-up tea rooms
Funding and Sponsorship
The festival's funding model evolved significantly over its lifetime, adapting to changing economic circumstances while maintaining its community focus.
Early Funding (1987-2012)
In its early decades, the Adur Festival was predominantly funded and managed by Adur District Council as part of its community arts support. The Council underwrote the festival's core costs up until 2012.
Transition to Mixed Funding (2013-2016)
Starting in 2013, the nonprofit Ropetackle Arts Trust took over coordination of the festival. The festival's income became a mix of grants and local support:
- Arts Council England (ACE) grants provided primary funding
- Reduced contribution from Adur District Council
- Support from the Sussex Community Foundation
- Shoreham Port became a headline corporate sponsor in 2015
- "Adur Pot of Gold" community grant scheme funded specific projects
- In-kind support and small sponsorships from local businesses
"The festival is a non-profit event, and we wouldn't be able to organise events such as the district-wide street parties... without such generous support."
"Arts Council England's decision not only to continue to support the festival, but to increase its support is clear recognition of what has been achieved."
Community Involvement and Impact
One of the Adur Festival's greatest strengths was the high level of community participation in both organizing and programming events. It was fundamentally an "open access" festival — anyone could register an event under the festival banner so long as it took place in Adur during the festival dates.
Community Participation
- Public planning meetings and workshops to shape the festival
- Open registration system for events from any community member
- Schools, art clubs, choirs, and local organizations all contributing
- Community fundraising through raffles and local donations
- Local libraries hosting author talks and reading events
- High-street shops and cafés distributing festival brochures and hosting small events
Festival Impact
The festival had significant impacts on the Adur community:
- Provided a platform for local expression and creativity
- Strengthened community bonds across different towns in the district
- Supported local businesses with increased footfall during festival weeks
- Put Adur's name on the cultural map, attracting visitors to the area
- Fostered a strong sense of local pride and identity
"The festival can't grow unless the community takes ownership of it."
"This Festival was a showcase for the town, bringing the community together and attracting tourists to the area."
Decline and Discontinuation
After a quarter-century run, the Adur Festival faced headwinds in the mid-2010s that led to its decline and eventual pause.
Major Turning Points
- 2012: Adur District Council announced it could no longer directly sustain the festival due to budget pressures
- 2013-2016: The Ropetackle Trust successfully ran the festival with external funding and volunteer power
- 2017: The festival took a "pause," breaking the annual tradition
Contributing Factors
- Funding challenges: Arts Council funding cycles ended, and grants were not renewed at the same level
- Leadership transition: Festival coordinator Mella Faye-Punchard moved on to other projects
- Increasing costs: The festival's growth meant higher production costs for large outdoor events and international acts
- Volunteer capacity: Organizing such a complex event required significant volunteer manpower
- Lack of sustainable structure: No established independent festival committee to continue once Ropetackle stepped back
Prospects for Revival
Although the Adur Festival has been inactive since 2016, the idea of reviving it has persisted in the community. The festival's significance — in terms of community cohesion, local pride, and cultural vibrancy — remains in the memory of Adur residents.
Current Status
Interest in reviving the festival has never entirely disappeared, and similar communities have shown it's possible to resurrect beloved local festivals with enough grassroots support. In 2023-2024, informal conversations among community leaders and arts enthusiasts in Adur have again brought up the question: Can we bring back the Adur Festival?
Revival Case Studies
Kirkintilloch Canal Festival Revival Effort
Maine Lobster Festival Successful Revival
Successful festival revivals elsewhere show that with "new leadership and business sponsorships" and a "wave of community support," a festival can be "rebuilt" and thrive in an even more inclusive and sustainable form.
Strategies for a Successful Revival
Reviving the Adur Festival would require careful planning and a strategy that leverages community strengths. Based on both the festival's history and outside case studies, here are key strategies and considerations:
Re-establish an Organizing Body
Form a steering committee or trust specifically for the festival, involving representatives from local arts bodies, business leaders, council liaisons, and passionate volunteers.
Secure Diverse Funding
Combine multiple funding streams: Arts Council grants, local government support, business sponsorships, community fundraising, and partnerships with organizations like Sussex Community Foundation.
Community Engagement
Make the festival "by and for the community" with public meetings to gather ideas, encourage participation from schools, arts clubs, and businesses, and recruit volunteers from every town in the district.
Scale and Program Planning
Start modestly and build up, focusing first on local arts and community gatherings with smaller budgets, while maintaining the "something for everyone" ethos.
Marketing and Online Presence
Create a strong online hub for the festival with clear sections for history, involvement, event listings, and sponsor acknowledgments, complemented by physical promotion in the community.
Sustainability Plan
Establish the festival as a registered charity or Community Interest Company for multi-year fundraising, document processes, build relationships with sponsors, and demonstrate economic and social impact.
Help Revive the Adur Festival
Are you passionate about bringing back this beloved community celebration? We're looking for volunteers, sponsors, and ideas to help revive the Adur Festival.
Get Involved