Cheltenham Festivals

51°53′24″N 2°04′41″W / 51.890°N 2.078°W / 51.890; -2.078

Cheltenham Festivals is a registered charity that organises four festivals every year in the spa town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: the Jazz, Science, Music and Literature. In addition to this it promotes the use of several venues for private and commercial use (eg. weddings and parties, presentations, conferences etc).

It also runs an extensive education programme, with events linked to each Festival. With the aim of involving the local community, such events range from family activity days to performances out and about in the local area.

Festivals

Jazz

Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival in association with BBC Radio 2

Formed in 1996
The Festival has a varied and adventurous programme, trying to challenge the stylistic boundaries set by other festivals as well as develop new audiences in jazz. It upholds a close relationship with BBC Radio 2, and has a reputation for innovation and creativity.
Acts in previous years include Herbie Hancock, Ornette Coleman, Chick Corea, John Scofield, Jamie Cullum, Gilles Peterson, Jools Holland, Charles Lloyd, Bennie Maupin, Bob Brookmeyer, Madeleine Peyroux, the Guillemots, Curtis Stigers, Kyle Eastwood, Koop and the BBC Big Band, The Cinematic Orchestra, Zoe Rahman, Eartha Kitt, Van Morrison, Maceo Parker, Gwyneth Herbert, Tim Berne and Mr Scruff.

Science

The Times Cheltenham Science Festival

Formed in 2002
The Festival attempts to engage in entertaining, challenging and controversial issues, as well as the experiences of famous speakers. The Festival also hosts a Science-based talent competition, NESTA FameLab.
Guests in previous years have included Robert Winston, Richard Dawkins, Richard Hammond, Tony Robinson, Jonathon Porritt, Kevin Conrad, Colin Pillinger and Adam Hart-Davis.

Music

HSBC Cheltenham Music Festival

Formed in 1945
The Festival is a huge summer celebration of live ‘classical’ music, and is the oldest member of the Festival family in Cheltenham. Events range from free family workshops and young artists’ projects, through to concerts from well-loved performers and the promotion of contemporary composers.
Artists in previous years include Marc-André Hamelin, Craig Ogden, Calefax, the Dante Quartet, Noam Greenberg, Ingrid Fliter, Danjulo Ishizaka, the Pavel Haas Quartet, Danjulo Ishizaka, Allan Clayton, Paul Lewis, Manchester Camerata, the Schubert Ensemble, Ailish Tynan, Gareth Hancock, Alekzandar Madzar, Sir Peter Maxwell-Davies, John Potter, Kathryn Tickell, James Gilchrist and Taraf de Haidouks.
Its current director is Meurig Bowen

Literature

The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival

Formed in 1949
Now firmly established as one of the country's principal literary events, it is the longest-running literature festival in the world. Most of the great names in modern literature have appeared at the festival at some time during its history.^[1]
Guests include Toni Morrison, Ian Rankin, Kate Adie, Patrick Stewart, Richard Attenborough, Simon Schama, David Starkey, Antony Sher, Michael Parkinson, Terry Jones, Tony Robinson, Sandi Toksvig, Dawn French, Simon Armitage, Clive James, Ruth Rendell, Alexander McCall Smith, Bruce Parry, Ray Mears, Frank Skinner, Janet Street-Porter, Roger Moore, Tony Curtis, John Barrowman, Russell T Davies, Dave Gorman, Charley Boorman, Alexei Sayle and Mark Thomas.

Further Information

Cheltenham Festivals is responsible for two of the country’s oldest festivals and two of its newest. The first Music Festival was held in 1945 followed by a Literature Festival in 1949. These were augmented by the first Jazz Festival in 1996, followed by the Science Festival in 2002.

There is a general commitment to produce Festivals with 'attitude', 'bite' and 'edge'^[2], creating programmes that give audiences the opportunity to discover and participate in new and interesting work, as well as challenge their perceptions.

With the four festivals of Jazz, Science, Music and Literature, Cheltenham Festivals host hundreds of events across 12 months. The four festivals have worked together to ensure Cheltenham's enviable reputation as the festival capital of Britain, and attract some of the art's biggest names.

With combined ticket sales of over 125,000^[3] the Jazz, Music, Science, and Literature Festivals all possess international reputations.

Each festival is programmed by an artistic director, all of whom are leaders in their fields. A commitment to celebrating new work and young artists ensures that the festivals never stand still and continue to receive international coverage with audiences and performers drawn from across the world. In addition there is a thriving education programme which aims to take the festivals out into schools and the community thus generating new audiences.

Previously linked with the Cheltenham Borough Council, in 2006 the four festivals set out on an independent journey as they collectively became Cheltenham Festivals. As a registered charity Cheltenham Festivals has its very own marketing, education and development teams, and for the first time in its history a Chief Executive, Donna Renney^[3]: according to Donna, the Festivals 'provide a place to explore interesting themes, to take part in debates, hear different and unusual music, challenge one's perceptions and enhance knowledge. In short, a spa for the mind'^[2].

External links

References

^ [1]
^ ^a ^b Cheltenham Festivals Annual Review 2007
^ ^a ^b [2]

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[review-2] Cheltenham Festivals Annual Review 2007

[cheltfest-3] [2]

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