Arts for Community’s sake – BletchFest

Established arts festivals add significantly to local image and identity and can become embedded in the social and cultural life of communities hosting them. Those attending such events generally feel more positive about the host town leaving them with improved perceptions of people and places.

There are many festivals held throughout the summer months and the Queen’s Jubilee this year will see that magnified. Many are familiar with commercial music and beer festivals which often provide good entertainment. As a community driven arts festival BletchFest has different objectives from commercial events, seeking to promote inclusive participation in the arts in its many forms while generating awareness and sustained audiences for the town’s year round venues.

Creating positive experiences and awareness of the venues that cultural events take place in can build return visits to the venues with a greater public interest in the Arts. A successful annual arts festival will promote a town and its environs to the wider local regions around it and perhaps nationally too. Participating artists will be encouraged to help design the platform that best suits them.

East Surrey doesn’t lack artists and performers, embracing a diverse range of visual and performing arts. This also holds true for individuals and centres for those with disabilities who would benefit from showcasing their skills. But it has very few platforms in which talented local artists can demonstrate their talents regularly. BletchFest with its hub in venues in the town of Bletchingley, East Surrey seeks to provide that regular platform.

The economic impact of festivals on local economies isn’t hard to appreciate. Secondary spending on hospitality just one obvious effect. Performers have been particularly hard-hit due to lockdown and this offers opportunities for them to regenerate their careers. The benefits to the wellbeing of the community are perhaps less instantly appreciated but they are nonetheless very real.

It is this community aspect as opposed to commercial focus that is the drive behind BletchFest as East Surrey’s very own Arts Festival. Any revenues generated can be put back to build the next event bigger and better but the most valuable commodity is engagement. Whether as a visual artist, performer or sponsor here is the opportunity to design and build Arts events that artists, performers and audiences alike want to see. In the meantime why not enjoy the first event in the BletchFest festival calendar which is a comedy night in Bletchingley Village Hall on the 1st April. Headlining is Paul Sinha from TV’s The Chase along with a full supporting cast from the House of Stand Up. It’s going to be a great opening for the festival. Tickets and more information are available on the website given above.