Rye’s principal annual arts event, the Festival is dedicated to high quality performances in music, literature, theatre and other art forms coupled with a range of activities in heritage, the environment and outreach.

Our main audiences are from Rye and the surrounding area, although it is attracting increasing numbers from further afield. A brochure is produced for the Festival launch and 17,000 copies are distributed. Our popular website offers online booking and more detailed information about individual events and Festival activities.

The Festival is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (No. 1175309) organised by a team of Trustees and volunteers. Its purpose is to foster and promote knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the arts and sciences of music, opera, dance and drama, film, literature and the visual arts. It aims to do this for as wide an audience as possible and to attract them by, among other things, keeping the cost of high-quality performances as low as possible.

In the past few years the Festival has greatly expanded the way it works with schools in the area which host, or are part of, Festival workshops and performances.

Since its beginnings, we have been able to draw upon financial support from both corporate and private sponsors and we would like to ask you to play a part. Sponsorship normally involves supporting one or more events or supporting the Festival as a whole.

The Festival is keen to continue to provide Rye and the surrounding area with high quality performances. It has a strong emphasis on classical music (including showcasing new talent) as well as folk, country and choral music. We have a long established and respected literary tradition with a wide range of talks by authors of books published in the last year or so, as well as new novelists and local interest authors.

In the past we have included opera performances and there are also theatrical and comedy shows. The Festival runs parallel activities such as guided local walks. There are also exhibitions of fine arts at various Rye galleries in partnership with the Festival.

For more information, please contact sponsorship@ryeartsfestival.org.uk