Festival Aims and Objectives

The following is a standard form of words which the Festival has had to adopt when submitting its application for charitable status. in essence, the principal aim of the Festival is to enhance the community spirit of the parish of Deddington and surrounding villages by offering a wide range of activities and performances which will appeal to a broad section of the inhabitants.

"The object of the charity is to promote a festival or festivals of the arts and craft for the benefit of the inhabitants of Deddington, Clifton and Hempton in the county of Oxfordshire and the surrounding area with the objective of advancing the education of the said inhabitants in the subject of the arts and crafts and of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants." 

Adopted unanimously by the Festival Committee, 12 November 2004.

Deddington Festivals Ltd
Company No 5389817
Registered Charity No 1111495

Deddington Festival opened in 2003 with Britten's Noye's Fludde, in which local school children performed. Conductor, Janet Lincé and Rev Dr Hugh White were responsible for the first event and their involvement continued until 2009. In 2004 Dido and Aeneas and a choral concert made up the programme. In 2005 the company was set up and charitable status awarded.

Festival 2005 combined the established art and craft exhibitions and Poetry Please recital evening with a competition by Deddington Writer's Group, a children's art workshop and a cricket match.

In 2006 the Oxford Waits, Bejazzled, The Tim Dawes Band and Stekpanna joined the Festival line-up. The Farmers' Market held a photographic competition and Deddington Library hosted an open day and exhibition for children organised by Deddington and District History Society. Fund-raising events in 2006 included a local production, Sing me a Song O, a quiz night, and the Italian Violin Legacy concert. Proceeds were shared with the Church and Katharine House Hospice. These initiatives, together with local support and a second successful application to Awards for All, secured finances for 2006.

In 2007 Deddington Festival joined Oxford Inspires 2007 (Celebrating a Thousand Years of Oxfordshire). The Festival was expanded to include two concerts, Deddington Rocks and Celebration of Youth, in which many talented young people took part. The Beauchamp Sinfonietta and the Reading Male Voice Choir participated for the first time, joining returning acts in the programme. Fundraisers included a one man show by Festival patron Brian Kay and wine tastings hosted by Sophie Rudge of Blend.

Deddington Festival 2008 was yet another great community event and offered something for every taste. An Art Workshop, Jazz, Open Gardens, Poetry Please, The Flower Festival, Village Walks, Demon Barbers, A Night at the Opera, Celebration of England, and a great deal more.

The introduction of Deddington FUN and Deddington ROCKS made Deddington Festival 2008 the most ambitious project yet, as we presented a fun-packed day of family entertainment in the Market Place, followed by an evening of rock and dancing under the stars. The village really did come to life.

Deddington Festival 2009 began with the ever-popular community concert. Deddington Festival then hosted a contemporary jazz concert by Stekpanna, Why Writers Write, Art and Craft Exhibitions, Art Workshop, Guided Walks, Primary School Concert, Poetry Please, Open Gardens, Palm Court Trio and a classical concert, Orchestral Masterworks, conducted by our Musical Director.

We aim to encourage the active participation of the community and each year takes us nearer our goal. We look forward to seeing you this summer!

Deddington Festival Committee

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