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Inspiring Generations
Join us to discover the vibrant world of local arts, featuring a myriad of creative talents at the Chesham Arts Festival. Dive into our artistic community!
CHESHAM ARTS FESTIVAL
About
Our Story
Chesham Arts Festival serves as a platform for local young performing artists, fostering a vibrant arts scene. We promote creativity and cultural exchange in the community.
Established to celebrate and unite artistic talents within Chesham, Bucks and the surrounding areas, our festival brings together the performing arts, encouraging participation and appreciation among attendees. We aim to inspire, connect and enrich the community.
Do you have a passion for music, dance and Chesham? If so, we'd love to hear from you. The Chesham Arts Festival is a non-profit charity run by a dedicated team of volunteers. We are are always looking for new people to assist with the Festival. If you are interested in any capacity, please email the festival administrator at james.bowers@cheshamartsfestival.onmicrosoft.com or speak to a committee member during the festival.
A message from the President
In 1977 fifty years ago the first Chesham Arts Festival took place, this year we are celebrating the milestone of the 50th anniversary of that very first Festival. No one who took part in the first Festival either as a participant of organiser had any idea that it would still be happening fifty years later.
Over the years the Festival has grown in size. We are proud of its resilience through thick and thin, it attracts up to 1000 performers each year.
The distinguished panel of adjudicators are all top draw with extensive performing, teaching and examining credentials. They pass on their love of the arts and give illuminating advice to youngsters and adults alike who take part in both the competitive and non competitive classes, across the many genres of Dance, instrumental, vocal and composition classes.
The Festival has a proud tradition of nurturing young talent and focuses on encouraging joy of performance, artistic skills, discovery, confidence, the educational value of learning new skills, working to achieve their excellent performances with the aid of their teachers and parents and widening their experience of the Arts.
I look forward to encouraging and welcoming as many participants as possible to take part in the 50th Anniversary Chesham Arts Festival. Come and celebrate with us and each other your hard work in February 2027.
I would like to thank the Elgiva Theatre for hosting the event and all the committee members, volunteers, teachers, accompanists and parents for supporting their youngsters and adults on their artistic journeys, helping all our participants to take part in this the 50th Chesham Arts Festival.
Timothy Bowers
A Message from the Chairman
A very warm welcome to Chesham Arts Festival 2027. This is our 50th festival, so it’s very special. Who would have predicted when the festival began back in the 1970s that it would be flourishing more than half a century later? We missed a year in 2021 because of Covid but the festival bounced back full of life the very next year.
It’s a proud achievement, and a tribute to all the people who have taken part as well as those who taught and supported them. It’s also a tribute to the trustees and the rest of the team who organise the festival year after year. Without their time, energy and skills, Chesham Arts Festival could not exist.
As a Chesham Town Councillor, I am delighted that Chesham Arts Festival is taking place once again at the Elgiva, Chesham’s own theatre and arts centre. The Bucks Free Press has highlighted Chesham’s “growing arts and culture scene”, and we are very proud to be part of this very lively scene.
I hope that everyone will have a very happy, enjoyable and interesting time at our very special 50th anniversary festival!
Cllr Alan Bacon
President
Timonthy Bowers DPhil, BMus Hons, FRAM, ARCM
Vice Presidents
Gwen Woodstock, ALCM
Mrs P Cracknell, ALCM LLCM (TD)
Officers and Committee Members
Chairman - Cllr Alan Bacon
Vice Chair - Catherine Bowers LRAM, CertEd
Treasurer - Martin Sims
Dance Officer - Johnny Schwerzmann AISTD, IDDC, AAC1
Festival Administrator & Music Officer - James Bowers BA (Hons), MA, LRSM