HAR ROG ATE
A very Merry Christmas from all at the Harrogate International Festivals
Welcome...
We hope you’ve had an enjoyable year with Harrogate International Festivals.
IN 2019
49% of all HIF events were free
to access with costs subsidised by the Festival, and our partners.
72,000
81
Over the last twelve months we’ve welcomed a host of musicians, writers, thinkers, artists and entertainers to Harrogate to thrill our audiences.
Over visits to our free to access arts, education and community events.
Our work draws people to the town, to celebrate new ideas, to capture imaginations, to experience the Moon at their fingertips, to meet world famous authors, dance until the early hours or perhaps to immerse themselves in century’s old music that still resonates today as much as it did the first time it was performed.
165 events over 111 days in 34
It has been such a busy year at the Festival that we cannot hope to reflect on and celebrate everything in this newsletter, but instead are looking to provide you with a glimpse of our work, and our passion behind the events that makes our 53-year strong heritage as an arts charity so important today.
What you said about us: “Thoroughly entertaining, the highlight of my year.” “Wry, classy, inventive, once again @HarrogateFest is the place where amazing things happen!” “One of Harrogate’s highlights of highlights.” “It was worth coming from New Zealand for such an amazing experience.” “Thank you so much the students really did enjoy it. For many, they had never heard an orchestra before.” “Musical Mums helped me to gain confidence and build some great friendships.”
We were awarded: ‘Team of the Year Award’ Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Awards ‘Tourism Award’ Harrogate Advertiser Excellence in Business Awards. Our Chief Executive Sharon Canavar also won the ‘Business Personality of the Year Award’ in recognition of her longstanding work in the town.
Box Office | 01423 562 303
venues.
23
Bookers from countries and continents visited Harrogate to attend one of HIFs events.
5
1668 free or discounted tickets to paid events.
Putting Harrogate in HIF Harrogate International Festivals is truly part of Harrogate. The support we receive from the town’s residents and the palpable excitement shown in welcoming some of the best artists in the world to our town is always a thrill. This year Team HIF took part in The Great Knaresborough Bed Race. The Bed Race is a one of the great traditions of area with a pageant of decorated beds, followed with a gruelling race around a 2.4-mile course culminating in a swim through the ever-icy waters of the River Nidd. Team HIF was made up of staff members and supporters and took to the track on a particularly wet and treacherous day. It was an unforgettable experience and a great way to raise the profile of Harrogate International Festivals, whilst supporting other charities. Alongside our community events, we also celebrated Harrogate Welcomes The World, as part of the UCI, decorating the town overnight in glorious technicolour, hosting a global Carnival and a celebration of the towns spa heritage.
| harrogateinternationalfestivals.com