About Us
Stroud Arts Festival is one of the UK’s longest-running arts festivals and a central part of cultural life in Stroud. Founded in 1946 by local benefactors Margaret and Netlam Bigg, the charity is dedicated to presenting high-quality artistic work while endeavouring to make the arts accessible to the whole community.
At its core, Stroud Arts Festival curates an annual programme spanning a wide range of art forms—music, spoken word, visual art, choral, dance and film – bringing internationally renowned performers to Stroud’s audiences whilst also providing a platform for local creatives to showcase their work.
The festival often blends disciplines, combining music with poetry, storytelling or visual elements to create distinctive events.
Alongside its performances, the festival has an educational and outreach role, offering discounted tickets, youth engagement and inclusive events designed for people who might not otherwise attend traditional arts activities. This strand of the festival’s work springs from the ethos of its founders, whose work with young people and whose desire for everyone to be able to experience the arts is fundamental to Stroud Arts Festival’s programming.
The charity also uses income from its ticket sales to offer small grants and sponsorship to other arts organisations in Stroud, helping creative projects get off the ground and creative practices flourish. Many of the vibrant, popular events for which Stroud is increasingly famous have started with funding from Stroud Arts Festival – the Stroud Book Festival and Hidden Notes Festival are just two examples.
Often described as the ‘grandparent’ of local festivals it works in collaboration with others, helping to inspire new organisations and support growth in the arts throughout the Stroud District.
With its long history and high standards it has helped to shape Stroud as a place where the arts are valued, shared and lived.