Festival Director
Eleanor Hart
Eleanor leads the festival from its first planning meetings through to the final night. She oversees budgets, partner relationships and the overall vision for the month-long programme.
Meet the team
The people behind the 2024 festival
A small, dedicated crew who plan, programme and run every part of the festival from 1 November to 1 December 2024.
Next reads
Leadership and production
Each member of the team has a clear area of responsibility, and every decision is shared across the group before the doors open.
Programme Curator
Tom Ellery
Tom selects and schedules performances, workshops and talks. He works closely with local artists and venues to build a programme that balances established names with new voices.
Production Manager
Priya Nand
Priya coordinates stages, sound, lighting, site safety and crew rotas. She ensures that every event starts on time and that visitors can move around the site with ease.
Community Partnerships Lead
Marcus Reed
Marcus builds links with schools, community groups and local businesses. He leads the volunteer scheme and the accessible ticket programme.
How we work
Three principles guide the team throughout the festival period.
01
Shared planning
Every programme decision is reviewed by the full team, so production, budget and community needs are considered together.
02
Local first
We prioritise local performers, makers and suppliers wherever the quality and scale of an event allow.
03
Open access
Accessibility is planned from the start, including step-free routes, quiet hours and clearly marked information points.
From planning to the final night
The team works through four stages in the months leading up to the festival.
Early summer
Programme planning
Artists, speakers and venues are invited and the first draft of the schedule is agreed.
Late summer
Partner confirmation
Sponsors, local businesses and community groups confirm their roles and the final budget is set.
October
Site and crew preparation
Stages are scheduled, volunteers are trained and safety checks are completed.
1 November – 1 December 2024
Festival month
The team runs the daily programme, responds to visitor needs and reviews each event at close.
"The team answered every question I had before my first event and stayed calm on the busiest days. It felt like working with people who genuinely care about the festival."
Visiting artist, 2023 programme
Get in touch with the team
Questions about volunteering, partnerships or event tickets? Our team is ready to help.