Festival News

Arundel Festivals & Events Press Release

Arundel Festival of the Arts Celebrates Community, Cultural and Collaboration Success

"Arundel Festival - building for the future - connecting people with a shared vision

Committee Roles and Volunteer Opportunities available. “Volunteers are unpaid. Not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless” As we slowly and carefully emerge from COVID lockdown, the Arundel Festival of the Arts Committee are still working hard behind the scenes to ensure that when the time is right, we can once again stage a safe and responsible festival. In the meantime we are urgently seeking to fill the following committee roles: Secretary PR/Marketing Lead/Advisor We are also seeking expressions of interest from community minded, “team players” of all ages who can offer a few hours (or days) of their time to make a positive contribution as Arundel Festival of the Arts Volunteers. Your time and skills will be used wisely, as we aim to match volunteers interests, skills, and strengths to appropriate roles and events. Full safety briefings and training will be provided. Support and advice from the Volunteer Co-ordination and Health & Safety Teams will also be available throughout the duration of the Festival. We are currently seeking to build a database of volunteers in the following areas: Welcome/Public Interface/Festival Ambassadors Railway Station Meet and Greet Volunteers Information Desk Volunteers Circus & other Ticketed Events Volunteers (daytime & evening) Pram/Pushchair Park Volunteers ‘Fed & Watered’ Volunteers (lunchtime cover) Parking Volunteers (Mill Road and various Fields) Please email: secretary@arundelfestival.co.uk with your name, email address, contact numbers, areas of interest and time availability (hours/days etc).

 1978 - First one: Shakespeare in the Castle tilting yard by the New Shakespeare Company From Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre  1979/80 - Comprehensive Arts programme - inc David Hockney & John Bratby in Arun Art Centre  1980 - Arundel Festival Society: Duke of Norfolk is President, VP’s are Chair of ADC, Mayor, plus 3 others; Management Committee led by Judith Buckland; large admin team (inc manager of “Heavy Brigade”); High profile sponsors plus patrons.  1982 - Theatre (cast included Kate O’Mara) moved to the lower lawn of Castle, Festival Patrons Club launched with £50 annual subscription  1983 - Town Activities Committee: Mayor is President with Don Ayling as Chair later & Bill Beere. Friends sub added @£5 pa  1984 - Format develops - Quality Music, Art & Drama plus community events. Events included Shakespeare, Jazz, classical music in St Nicholas Church & Nigel Kennedy in the Great Drawing Room, Arundel Castle (sponsors inc Body Shop, M&S, Southern Arts & patrons)  1985 - Follies, Trust Players at WWT and an exhibition of watercolours by Sir Hugh Casson at Arun Art Centre. Music inc Julian Lloyd Webber. Many community events. One central box office.  1986 - Still attracting big names: Derek Jacobi, George Melly.  1988 - First mention of Festival Fringe with input from Chamber of Commerce: Street entertainment plus plus plus.  1990 - American ground used for performances.  1990 - “Festival at its best” The Times. At this time events took place in Boxgrove, Parham House, Dorset House School, Littlehampton Parish Church, Champs Hill, a marquee in the Castle as well as venues in town. The Festival has an Artistic Director, and with main sponsors a new production of a Shakespeare play was produced each year.  2000 - Abba & Queen - tribute bands appear for the first time  2002 - Silver Jubilee Festival - Judith Buckland steps down as Chair & reflects on putting on some events on the August bank holiday weekend to “creating an arts festival in a parkland site”.  Amazing contacts from across the art world made many things possible - Sir David Frost, Lord Harewood then Chair of ENO, etc etc. Street theatre started as a way to introduce international culture with groups. Largely helped by their recruitment of the Heavy Brigade. Supported by major sponsors: NWB, BAA, EDF, etc etc as well as Arts Council.  2005 - Last year for Arundel Festival Society, after the Festival it winds down. Arundel Castle ensures all creditors paid off.  2006 - New festival committee headed by Duke of Norfolk, limited events at Castle all other events are Fringe & “Madfest” (inc Gallery Trail, Theatre Trail and Festival Music for the first time by Nick Plumley). Separate box offices for each venue/event. New Ltd company formed for the Festival.  2008 – New committee again with Penny Hadley & Justin Williams as co-chairs, James Stewart as Treasurer. One brochure incorporating all events plus Town Fair Day at Football Club for local community.  2010 - Charitable status gained.  2012 & 2015 - New committee again with same format.  2016 - Arundel Festival wins Sussex Life Festival of the year  2017 – Festival Fundraiser in July becomes a ‘mainstay’ in the Arundel social calendar  2018 – Dragon Boat Races for the first time  2019 - Party by the river, Dramatic Truth Ballet Theatre, Happy’s Circus for the first time.   2020 - New committee with Sharon Blaikie as Chair - new format...Festival goes Virtual for the first time!