2010 market features the arts

Planning is well underway for the 2010 Lichfield Festival which runs from Thursday 8 July to Sunday 18 July. More information will appear here in the coming months and the full programme will be announced at the end of March. Booking will open in April. One change for 2010 is the introduction of an arts-themed Lichfield Festival Market in place of the long-running Medieval Market and last year's Georgian Market.

The Lichfield Festival Market will be held on Saturday 10 July. For more information on what will be on offer and also how you can be involved, look here.

Do your festival shopping online

The Lichfield Festival's online shop is open for business. We have limited edition prints exhibited by Angie Lewin, Andy Lovell and Alistair Tucker as part of the 2009 festival , as well as other festival-linked gifts. You can also buy festival vouchers online - these are ideal as birthday or anniversary presents. Just click here or on the Festival Shop button in the menu on the left of this page.

Festival honoured with community award

For the second year in a row, the Lichfield Festival has won one of The Midlands Business Awards for its education and community work.
The Lichfield Community Support Award is sponsored by Lichfield District Council.
Councillor David S. Smith explained: “We were delighted to sponsor the Lichfield Community Support award, and even more delighted that the Lichfield Festival scooped the top spot. From helping local school children to get involved in the arts, through to offering hundreds of volunteering opportunities, The Lichfield Festival is a key part of the local community.”
Jennifer Smith, Learning and Participation Manager of The Lichfield Festival, received the award on behalf of the Festival team.
She said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive such a prestigious award, which underpins one of our key ambitions, to support and enhance the local community.”
The Midlands' Business Awards is not just about winning, it is also about raising money for a local charity. This year’s chosen charity was The Midlands Air Ambulance, and the awards helped to raise £4,000.

Read the full press release here.

New festival director announced

The Lichfield Festival has announced its new festival director. She is Fiona Stuart, currently director of the Chorlton Arts Festival and also community outreach manager for the Royal Northern College of Music.

She replaces Richard Hawley, director since 2004, who has accepted a fellowship with the Clore Leadership Programme, and leaves Lichfield at the end of October.

Fiona said: “I am delighted to have been offered the post of Festival Director of The Lichfield Festival.  The Festival has helped to place Lichfield on the map as a centre for wide-ranging and innovative arts and has an important place in enriching the life of the local community. I am excited about getting to know this community and also about working within such a strong, established team.

Download the full press release here

See the Lichfield Festival 09 Flickr site here

Download a copy of the 2009 brochure by clicking on the front cover (right).

If you would like a copy of the 2010 brochure in the post next year or want to send one to a friend, send us the appropriate names and addresses via here.

If you would like to receive regular e-newsletters, register your email address by clicking the "Join our free mailing list" logo on the left (we promise we won't deluge you with unecessary emails).

If you really want to be first in the know, join the Lichfield Festival Association and receive priority benefits. Full details here.