PRESS RELEASE
HATS OFF TO HAT FAIR!
Hat Fair gains Regularly Funded Organisation status from Arts Council England.
The UK's longest running street arts festival, Hat Fair, has been granted financial support for the next three years from the new round of ACE regularly funded organisation (RFO) investments.
Felicity Harvest, Executive Director at Arts Council England, South East, said: ‘Our investment in the south east's thriving arts environment plays a major role in making the region such a vibrant place to live and visit. The future of the arts looks bright in the hands of these fantastic arts organisations and we look forward to supporting them in producing excellent, inspiring work for audiences across the region to enjoy.’
With Sian Thomas' appointment as Director of Celebrations six years ago, the festival has regularly increased its funding received through the Grants for the Arts Scheme. However this investment marks a new era for a festival which has delighted thousands of people over its 34 year history.
In 2007, Hat Fair was a co-founder of the Without Walls consortium adding and enhancing the festival's programme. The festival's commissioned productions were seen at the National Theatre, Fira Tarrega, Spain (Europe's largest street arts festival market), Manchester X.trax, Stockton International Riverside Festival and Greenwich and Docklands International Festival.
Sian Thomas is also a board member for the Independent Street Arts Network and the British Arts Festivals Association. Her advocacy work both in the UK and abroad has also led to the inception of new partnerships for Hat Fair, developing its International and National profile.
The further support and acknowledgement of Hat Fair from Arts Council England will help to secure the future of the festival and give a much needed boost to the delivery of the events and the infrastructure. The ability to plan for 3 years enables us to commission with more depth and greater development time for artists.
Sian Thomas said: ‘For many years Hat Fair has been delivering quality outdoor work to the people of Winchester and helping to support local and national artists in their professional development. This announcement represents a fantastic opportunity for the festival to grow and enhance its reputation for excellence, as well as developing the profile of Winchester as a cultural hub in the South East.’
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Hannah Ashwell, Festival Manager
07768 432842
Email
Notes to editors:
Read
Arts Council England's official statement online.