Ely Arts Festival is celebrating its largest and most successful festival to date. In 2024 there were 43 events across the two weeks (almost double the events in 2023), all enjoyed by over 7000 people.
Highlights included the festival family fun day (despite the weather) which featured musical performances on the bandstand, circus skills, dance and art – all for free in Jubilee gardens. There were workshops to get involved in including Linocut, ceramics and samba drumming. Free lunchtime concerts at the Sessions House welcomed star performers from the Royal College of Music, King’s Ely and Royal Academy of Music, professional theatre in the Bishops Garden, a large scale community concert and a festival finale celebrating a number of local groups in St Mary’s Church. Many local artists and musicians were featured including Laura Pearson-Clark who painted live in response to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Cliff Ward with an atmospheric gig in the Crypt at Julia’s Tea Room and workshops led by ceramic artist, Louise Beale and linocut with Lizzie Ault (Tales of the Fen)
Chris Parsons, Artistic Director of the festival says ‘It has been a brilliant festival and as a festival team, we are delighted with the interest and engagement in all the events. It shows how important the arts can be and we’re really excited about our plans moving forward. We are keen to reach the whole community and 40% of the events this year were free to attend. There was something for everyone with high quality classical music at the Sessions House, Ely’s hidden gem of a venue, comedy at the Maltings, workshops and lots more. We’re always keen to hear from individuals with new ideas! Huge thanks must go to the brilliant festival committee and all the wonderful local sponsors, without whom the festival would not be possible’
Plans are already in place for the 2025 festival and there may be some events appearing before next summer, to be announced very soon!
Press release from Ely Arts Festival
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