AAF 2024
THINKING
BIG
2024 was the year of our inaugural Alton Arts Festival and School Programme. Many sensible folk said: "Why not start small?"
And we said.....
How about more than 60 events across Music, Literature, Theatre and Art? And let’s also run a programme for schools bringing art, drama, literature or music workshops to every primary aged child in Alton!
All of this was made possible by the extraordinary support of our incredible community - whether fundraising, volunteering, attending one event or several, offering up a venue space, or getting your school involved...
... WE DID IT TOGETHER, ALTON.
LETTING creativity shine
Critically acclaimed music headliners including LYR, Testament, and Daudi Matsiko were billed alongside local crafts-people, artists and theatrical events including a much applauded “Opening night at the Opera” event held at Chawton House.
From “Textile Hanging” to “Limestone Carving” and from “Writing for Wellbeing” to “Beginner to Bestseller” - our diverse range of arts and literature workshops were also a huge success, proving that us Altonians love to participate in, as well as appreciate, the arts.
All in all, we sold well over 2000 tickets! This, in turn helped us reach more than 3,000 primary aged children with festival-funded workshops in art, drama, literature or music held in 15 schools, as well as many free and family events including our much-loved Party in the Park on the festival’s final day.
MAKING THE NEWS
For 10 days in July 2024, Alton was the centre of arts and creativity in Hampshire…
Farnham Herald
The Alton Arts Festival provided incredible audience experiences, workshops and exhibitions and was described as “just what Alton needs”.
Hampshire life
Altonians are a creative bunch. ‘Community, Creativity and Culture’ is the tagline for Alton Arts Festival – a multi-venue, multi-disciplinary festival that launched last year…Run entirely by volunteers this new Festival has been created to benefit Alton”.
Our ambitious and inclusive Schools’ Programme reached a total of 18 schools, including 15 primary schools, two secondary schools, and Treloar’s, a special school and college for disabled children and young people.
The programme covered music, theatre, poetry and spoken word, art, photography, silversmithing and gardening, with an emphasis on wellbeing and mental health. With funding from local sponsors and East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) Councillor Grants, the whole programme was delivered at no cost to schools or pupils.
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MORE THAN
3000 children
The 2024 schools' programme included:
Theatre
15 primary schools and Treloar’s enjoyed workshops with local companies Yo-Chi and Flip Theatre, focused on developing emotional resilience and wellbeing using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), role playing games, yoga and mindfulness techniques.
Creative writing
Year 5 students at five schools worked with ArtfulScribe to first write a poem on the theme of ‘hope’ and then perform that poem in a poetry showcase at Holybourne Theatre on 5th July, the opening day of the Festival.
Music
Art
Silversmithing
Gardening
Photography
Nine primary schools and Treloar’s got the thrilling experience of an all-school African Drumming workshop. These lively (and loud!) sessions were designed to help children understand the use of drumming, develop their skills of rhythm, mimicking and concentration, and introduce children to the excitement of being a part of group music-making.
12 primary schools and Treloar’s were visited by local artists and art teachers for hands-on workshops exploring the joy and confidence that can be found through the act of creating something visual.
80 students from Amery Hill and Eggars Secondary Schools were invited to experience an introduction to silversmithing with local jeweller Olivia Brown in her workshop in West Meon. This was fully funded by a grant from The Goldsmiths’ Centre.
16 schools created 1x1 metre wildlife-friendly mini gardens which were displayed in a beautiful creative garden trail across the Festival footprint from Holybourne to Chawton. Download the map here.
Students from Eggars and Alton College were invited to submit photographs to an exhibition on the theme ‘perspective’. The chosen entries were displayed in a photography trail stretching from Chawton to Holybourne for the duration of the Festival.
Thank you to all our 2024 sponsors
The Alton Arts Festival Schools’ Programme 2024 was made possible thanks to generous East Hampshire District Councillor Grants from Councillors Emily Young, Suzie Burns, Warren Moore, Barbara Tansey, Ginny Boxall and Joanna Nelson, with match-funding provided by AAF fundraising activities; grant funding from The Goldsmiths’ Centre; sponsorship from CALA Homes, Aspray, Frensham Heights, the Alton Society, Atkins, and Resurrection Furniture; and workshop materials donated by Alternative Packaging Ltd.