Britain’s arts festivals have become an integral part of the nation’s arts ecology and a cultural backbone for communities across the country but are struggling to survive amidst rising costs and static income, our Festivals Forward sector research report reveals.

Launched on Monday 18 November 2024 at BAFA’s annual Conference for Festivals in Bristol, the Festivals Forward report is the result of research carried out by BOP Consulting, as part of the Festivals Mean Business project, supported by Arts Council England, Arts Council of Wales and Creative Scotland.

It finds that the 101 festivals taking part in the survey between them produced 1,111 days of programmed events and registered more than 5 million in person attendances (ticketed and non-ticketed), engaged almost 34,000 artists and ensembles and presented more than 2,700 new works.

It says arts festivals represent a vibrant sector that should be seen as integral to the wider cultural sector of the UK and describes the average arts festival as hyperlocal, with 40% of audiences from within five miles, and often urban (61%), taking multiple venues for up to five days every year for a range of arts forms.

However, Festivals Forward reveals how many are facing significant financial challenges and having to exploit reserves to cover a £20,000 gap between their average spend of £245,000 and average income of £225,000 after facing rising costs over the last few years.

As such, BAFA would like to see wider recognition of the unique role arts festivals play not only in the UK’s cultural landscape but in communities across the country.

BAFA Director Fiona Goh said: “Britain’s arts festivals now confront a range of challenges but, as the report shows, they have much to build on. Festivals are powerhouses of creativity and catalysts for the imaginations of whole communities and we must harness this creativity to re-imagine their place in our lives.

“By re-thinking their place and building on their greatest strengths – their contribution to the wider arts ecology and their hyperlocal status – we can put them on a firmer footing and make sure they thrive, as well as survive.”

BAFA is calling for a review of arts festivals funding that will allow more organisations the ability to break out of the annual funding cycle, enabling more stability, ambition and sustainability in this key sector.

Download the report

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