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.

Festival Timeline

From its establishment in 1987 to its pause in 2017, the Adur Festival evolved through nearly three decades of community celebration. This timeline chronicles the key moments that shaped the festival's journey, from its early council-funded years through the transition to community-led coordination, and the challenges that led to its temporary hiatus.

1987

Festival Established

The Adur Festival was established as an annual celebration of arts and community in the Adur district of West Sussex.

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

Growth

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

21st Festival

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

Funding Changes

Adur District Council decided that continuing to solely fund the festival was "unsustainable" amid tightening budgets.

2013

New Coordination

The Ropetackle Arts Trust took over coordination of the festival, transitioning to a mixed-funding model.

2016

Last Full Festival

The last full Adur Festival was held, after which it faced funding challenges and leadership transitions.

2017

Pause

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

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

entertaining audiences of all ages

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

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

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

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:

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.