Hailsham Arts Festival Hailed a Big Success

This year’s Hailsham Festival of Arts & Culture has been well received by the public and hailed a success by the Town Mayor, as hundreds of people turned out to a wide variety of events last week.

The festival, which ran from Thursday 10th September to Monday 21st September, saw a steady stream of visitors to the town and had a varied programme of events to capture the attention of the public.

Visitors got the chance to attend a rich mix of art exhibitions, live music, theatrical events, children’s workshops and historical art talks, spread throughout Hailsham and surrounding areas.

Regular Festival updates, news and interviews were broadcast on Hailsham Festival FM, which also featured great music, lots of specialist shows and much participation from local people and organisations.

Entertainment at this year’s festival included performances the Cajun Dawgs and The Memphis Flyers and there was Cossack dancing and music at Hailsham Pavilion, a concert led by Hellingly Church Choir, jive dancing, baroque singing, barn dancing and other live entertainment.

The program also featured creative workshops, art history talks, literary events, and a film competition as part of the line-up. The usual displays of local artistic talent took place with the Art Trail throughout the festival period.

“I’m delighted with how the festival improves year after year and want to thank all the staff, volunteers and everybody who was part of its planning and organisation,” Town Mayor Councillor Nigel Coltman said. “I think it turned out to be an outstanding eleven days.”

Deputy Town Mayor and Chairman of the Town Council’s Communities Committee Councillor Amanda O’Rawe said: “It’s evident that this year’s festival has grown significantly and has also attracted new audiences from across the region. Local artists and entertainers rose to the occasion full of new ideas this year and the level of support for what was a very diverse program was simply outstanding.”

“We are still waiting for more information to come in but can safely say the 2015 festival was a resounding success.”

Josie Tipler, who sits on the Festival Committee said: “We are very pleased at the warm reception given to the events this year. We have had visitors who have travelled from far and wide as well as those who have been able to stroll to an event just down the road.”

“It has been wonderful to see such a gathering of creativity and talent in and around the town. New and exciting collaborations are formed through the festival every year so we really do feel we are making a difference through the arts.”

Plans will start shortly for the 10th anniversary Festival of Arts & Culture and feedback will be appreciated via their website (www.hailshamartsfestival.co.uk).