ArtsFest

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ArtsFest
Artsfest logo.jpg
ArtsFest logo
Birmingham ArtsFest 2007.JPG
The stage in Centenary Square being assembled for ArtsFest 2007
StatusInactive
GenreArt festival
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s) Birmingham
Country United Kingdom
Inaugurated1997
Most recent2012
Participants400+ [1]
Attendance250,000+ [2]
Website https://www.artsfest.org.uk

ArtsFest was an annual free arts festival held in September in and around Birmingham, England from 1997 to 2012. The festival was free for all attendees and featured varied performances ranging from orchestral music, ballet, rock bands, flash mobs, and dance groups. The main venue was Centenary Square, with other performances taking place across the city centre at venues such as Birmingham Town Hall, Chamberlain Square, Victoria Square, the Custard Factory, Brindleyplace, and as far out as Eastside. Exhibitions were also held at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Contents

Performances and exhibitions at ArtsFest were incredibly varied. Performances by Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Opera Company, and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra were an annual occurrence, oftentimes together. 2006 first broadened ArtsFest to Eastside, with Aston Manor Transport Museum providing transport between there, the city centre, and The Drum Arts Centre. [3] In 2008, ArtsFest recognised The Archers with a plaque on the Birmingham Walk of Stars and featured a reggae performance by Basil Gabbidon. [4] 2009's ArtsFest had a hands-on interactive Bang Goes the Theory exhibition and 2009's KerrangFest saw a performance by The Arcadian Kicks. [5] [6] ArtsFest's 2010 theme was Landscape and Heritage, introducing Folk Dance Fest. 2010's KerrangFest saw indie rock band The Twang performing. [2] 2011 introduced the FlowerFest. [7] 2012's music stage was emceed by Adrian Goldberg and saw performances by Poppy & the Jezebels and The Musgraves. [8]

In early 2013, Birmingham City Council announced the festival had been cancelled with immediate effect, citing a desire to save money and replace it with a cheaper event. ArtsFest had cost the council £130,000 in subsidies per year. Some of the money saved would go towards a festival held for the opening of the Library of Birmingham in September 2013. [9] [10] [11]

References

  1. ↑ "Get involved with huge arts festival". Bromsgrove Advertiser. 12 September 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Artsfest 2010". 8 September 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  3. ↑ BBC. "ArtsFest 2006 rocks!". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  4. ↑ BBC. "ArtsFest 2008". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  5. ↑ "ArtsFest 2009". Business Live. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  6. ↑ "Get ready for ArtsFest 2009!". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  7. ↑ "ArtsFest: Thousands attend first day in Birmingham". BBC News. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  8. ↑ "Review: The WM Introducing stage at ArtsFest". Birmingham Live. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  9. ↑ Elkes, Neil (9 February 2013). "Brum festival Artsfest is axed in bid to save cash". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  10. ↑ "Birmingham Artfest scrapped by city council to save money - West Midlands News - News - Birmingham Post". 13 February 2013. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  11. ↑ Elkes, Neil (11 February 2013). "Birmingham Artfest scrapped by city council to save money". Business Live. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
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