Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy. © Kat Mager
Cover: Upswing’s Showdown in the Adnams Spiegeltent. © Luke Witcomb
A Year in Review
Welcome! In our annual Snapshot, we shine a light on the impact of our organisation over the last 12 months.
Festivals are a vital part of our national arts ecology, producing new artistic output; providing creative collaboration and experimentation; supporting our largely freelance workforce; and providing a sense of place for the communities they serve. Like many festivals, we work year-round on a programme of participation and engagement. Unusually though, our approach marries this work with our annual Festival as each May we platform exciting projects from young people alongside our more established programming.
Personal highlights this year include the surreal art of Gandini Juggling’s Heka and the pair of musically diverse residencies from Lotte Betts-Dean and Sean Shibe. I’m particularly proud too of Festival Connect & Create projects like Dan Canham’s revealing dance and film residency in the Fens and Andy Field and Beckie Darlington’s MONSTERS which takes a lens to the climate crisis through the eyes of schoolchildren.
In a climate where real term funding for the Festival is decreasing; there are dwindling creative opportunities in schools; and the cost-of-living crisis continues to affect us all, it is heartening that our work in classrooms, communities, or in the streets and venues of Norwich and Norfolk, remains eagerly anticipated by audiences and participants alike.
As much as this Snapshot provides a little insight into how we are using culture and creativity to support the economy, talent, health and wellbeing of our communities, we encourage you to find out more throughout the year via our website, socials or e-news lists. Thank you!
Daniel Brine, Artistic Director & Chief Executive
A Year in Numbers
It’s not all about the numbers… but here is a whistle-stop tour around some of what we’ve been up to this year.
306 days of activity delivered in schools and communities
2065 hours of time donated by our Festival volunteers
22 locations across the eastern region received Festival Connect & Create projects
29 Festival venues from a medieval trading hall to a high-tech digital laboratory
80,000+ people from Norwich, Nuneaton and even New York visited the 2025 Festival
96% of audiences say Norfolk & Norwich Festival is good for Norfolk’s image
2000 people made donations in support of the Festival
£40,000 of bursaries awarded to artists and young creatives to work in communities across the region
‘What a privilege it is to have a Festival like this in our county’
Audience Member
A Year in Pictures
We delivered artist residencies to over 30 schools across the region. © Jo Hayes
We reflected the environmental concerns of hundreds of Norfolk school children in River of Hope, a two-year project culminating in an exhibition at The Forum. © Matthew Usher
We brought a dozen shows, including five world premieres, for free, to audiences of 20,000 over the Welcome Weekend.
PINE Agency
We opened the Festival with a fantastic double bill of music with over 200 local musicians, dancers and singers taking the stage.
We supported the development of Queer dance theatre company Thick and Tight’s new show, Natural Behaviour.
© Luke Witcomb
© Dan Randall-Dawson
©
We’ve built a network of 220 emerging young creatives in FLOCK and supported them to curate and deliver a programme of development events.
We created MONSTERS! A post-apocalyptic fairytale made in collaboration with young people, which premiered at this year’s Festival before a regional
We co-commissioned and presented Showdown in the Adnams
– supporting the work of one of the UK’s rising circus companies. ©
tour. © Fiona Roberts
Spiegeltent
Luke Witcomb
Our opening night concert saw Grammy Award-winning international performer Arooj Aftab grace the stage at Norwich Cathedral. © Luke Witcomb
© Kezia Tan
Artists & Performers
As catalysts of the imagination, our artists create memorable moments for audiences and help change the lives of children and young people across the region through our Festival Connect & Create projects.
336 artists and performers represented in the Festival
66 from Norfolk They presented 10 world and UK premieres
80 artists were supported to deliver projects to school and communities
6 bespoke concerts presented by our resident artists Sean Shibe and Lotte Betts-Dean
‘The
Festival is important to Norwich
and I
love how it has started to include more local performers as well as international artists.’
Audience Member
Aakash Odedra’s Songs of the Bulbul at Norwich Theatre Playhouse.
© Luke Witcomb
‘A well put together programme, helping raise the profile of the city throughout the region and indeed the country.’
Audience Member
A packed crowd in the Adnams Spiegeltent. © Kat Mager
Audiences & Reach
The work of Norfolk & Norwich Festival is experienced by over 100,000 people each year, and through our communications we reach many more. We shine a light on Norfolk and Norwich, attract visitors and help make our part of the world a truly great place to live, work, learn and play.
£¼ million tickets sold
55,000 follow us on social media
210,000 people visited our website
30%+ of audiences at free events were under 35 years
25 million media reach across print, broadcast and online 17% of our audience visited Norfolk particulary to attend Norfolk & Norwich Festival
Children & Young People
We believe creativity and culture is vital to young people, allowing them to build confidence, empathy and collaboration. We bring vital creative projects and opportunities to some of the most underserved young people across the region and encourage their participation in annual Festival.
2460 children and young people participated in our residencies and projects
77% of these were in places of need *
648 young people took part in our bursary-funded projects
736 children and young people presented work at the Festival
108 YoungNNF members, aged 18-25 years – able to claim £10 tickets across the Festival programme
* Levelling Up for Culture Places: Priority areas identified * by the DCMS where investment and engagement is too low. Delivered projects to 34 schools
‘I have finally been able to find my voice and my opinions about the town due to the project. I am incredibly thankful to be part of it.’ Participant, Swaffham
Your Town, My Town, Our Town is a three-year youth engagement project, in Swaffham, led by Norfolk & Norwich Festival. © Alex Anslow
Children & Young People
Festival Connect & Create is our initiative to improve the creative and cultural lives of children, young people and their communities in East Anglia.
We do this across three strands of work:
Creative Schools – delivering artistled residencies direct to those schools with least provision
Creative Places – seeding activity and developing partnerships to bring creative projects to locations with little or no provision
Creative Leaders – developing the professional practice of artists and educators
Why is this important?
We believe in the value of creative participation to fully develop the potential of young people – building confidence, wellbeing, collaboration, empathy and communication to support the social, cultural and economic fabric of our place.
However, across East Anglia there are large areas where access to creativity is not equal.
Education
The focus in state schools on STEM subjects has led to a 42% fall in Expressive Arts GCSE entries since 2010, and a 27% decline in arts teacher numbers.*
Poverty
Child poverty in Great Yarmouth and Wisbech is at 34%, in Ipswich 37.7% and in Peterborough it is as high as 47%.**
Access
Children from the most affluent backgrounds are three times more likely to sing in a choir or play in a band or orchestra than children living in deprived areas.***
*** Cultural Learning Alliance 2025
*** End Child Poverty Report 2022
*** Child of the North, Centre for Young Lives, 2025
In their own words: Creative Schools
In Rebel Resistors Radio Club, twelve girls from St Nicholas Priory Primary School in Great Yarmouth worked with Action Hero’s Gemma Paintin to write and record their own manifestos for the future, which they broadcast on analogue radios as part of this year’s Festival. Celebrating their power and controlling not just what they say but how they are heard, this international project helps girls imagine a future that belongs to them.
‘Projects like this remind us just how vital the arts are in the primary curriculum. They give children a voice, a way to explore who they are… creativity within these projects also builds confidence, empathy, collaboration – all the things we want our children to carry with them through life.’
Amy
Richardson, Assistant Head Teacher, St Nicholas Priory Primary School
Rebel Resistors Radio Club. © ETT Photography
In their own words: Creative Places
In a three-year residency supported by Norfolk & Norwich Festival, film maker and choreographer Dan Canham has been working in the Fens with young local dancers. Through a series of intimate films, Four Portraits from an Edgeland, Dan enables the young people to express how creativity and dance is so vital to their lives.
‘We’re actually going to implement sessions within the term for all classes where they just talk openly about how they feel towards each other. It was such a good bonding experience that we want to recreate it across the school.’
Sara Ford, 4D Dance
Behind the scenes on Four Portraits from an Edgeland. © Dan Canham
In their own words: Creative Leaders
Part of our Creative Leaders programme, our bursaries support artists to develop their community practice and help us reach more children and young people across the region.
Bursary recipient Sara Moreira took her first steps into community delivery, developing classes to introduce Afro-Portuguese songs to early years children and their families at Magic Acorns in Great Yarmouth and Little Beats in Lowestoft. Participants enjoyed the welcoming environment and learning new things, while Sara developed her confidence and skills as a socially engaged artist. Both organisations are keen to continue the work with Sara.
‘Living in a multicultural environment, I feel compelled to promote linguistic diversity so that everyone feels included. I had a chance to develop something new, make mistakes, exploring my ideas and see the positive results.’
Sara Moreira
Sara delivering classes at Magic Acorns in Great Yarmouth. © Lily Monsey
‘Thank you for helping make Norfolk the kind of place people are proud to call home, a brilliant place to live, to work and to raise a family.’ Festival Sponsor: Jonathan Crinnion, Global Head of Customer Success, Epos Now
Two of this year’s 160 volunteers.
© Luke Witcomb
People & Community
We, like many festivals, are deeply connected to our people and our place, not just through the local artists we champion; the volunteering opportunities we provide; the outreach work we deliver; but through the partnerships we forge. In an increasingly fractured society the Festival remains a community celebration for all.
160 volunteers, aged 18 to 90 years, supported delivery of this year’s Festival
228 people from across Norfolk and Suffolk performed in the Festival opening event
73 local people employed during the Festival
28 corporate partners
200 Norfolk suppliers
56% of our bursary recipients identify as disabled, neurodiverse, culturally diverse or from low socio-economic backgrounds
83% of audiences said Norfolk & Norwich Festival is welcoming for the whole community
Environment & Sustainability
We recognise our activity has an impact on the environment, but we are committed to measuring and reducing it. We seek to encourage dialogue and inspire change through our artistic and learning programmes, and in our work with artists, partners and audiences.
24% decrease in event emissions compared to 2024 549
miles driven by our event runner in an electric van. Thank you Motus Truck & Van! 55%
reduction across waste and recycling volume in Festival Gardens
30,000+
miles travelled by artists on the train to get to Norwich and back. Thank you Greater Anglia!
12 Festival shows and exhibitions exploring issues around climate change
‘I hope Roots to Rise can offer audiences moments of reflection… on how they spend time in nature and take care of the natural world and themselves in their own ways.’
Festival artist, Nandita Shankardass
Artizani’s Hydropunk, at the Welcome Weekend, encouraging the recycling of water. © PINE Agency
Sector Support & Development
Norfolk & Norwich Festival is a dynamic and active participant in our sector’s development. Working on a regional, national and international level, we help develop the quality and impact of the creative arts in the UK.
IN SITU
This European platform for artistic creation in public space is an extraordinary partnership of organisations that support artists and co-commission outdoor arts. We are an IN SITU Ambassador, connecting the UK to the network and supporting it to develop access and inclusion.
Stopgap Dance’s RO-TES was one of three new co-commissions from Norfolk & Norwich Festival, supported by Without Walls. ©
Walls
A national network of over 35 organisations that brings the best in outdoor arts to towns and cities across England. A member of the Artistic Directorate, we support and invest in the creation and touring of new work - much of which you see at our Welcome Weekend event each year.
Luke Witcomb
Without
Unlimited Partnership Awards
Unlimited’s mission is to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists that will change and challenge the world. We are supporting the Unlimited Partnership Awards in 2025/26, enabling us to work with and learn from Unlimited through the co-commissioning of new work.
Making Waves
A national commissioning programme led by Battersea Arts Centre. As a partner, we support bespoke opportunities for artists to develop extraordinary new work through commissions, residencies, artist development programmes, national and international touring.
Norfolk & Suffolk Culture Board
The Board supports the cultural economy; increases investment; accelerates inclusive growth; enhances health and wellbeing; and champions sustainable development. We are the Board’s Environment and Place lead, currently supporting environmental research by Lilli Geissendorfer and Amber Massie-Blomfield.
SCYPO
We are one of the Strategic Children and Young People Organisations (SCYPO) identified by Arts Council England to support the creative and cultural lives of children and young people in the South East. We work with Royal Ballet and Opera and Artswork to ensure complementary activity and cross-regional strategic approach.
USAN
Established by Norfolk & Norwich Festival, the Urban Sustainability Arts Network (USAN) is a national network to promote environmental sustainability. A vital space for urban event organisers to network and share best practice, resources and support.
Our work with SCYPO brings a cross-regional approach to work with children. © Isabel Morgan
Support Our Work
The financial pressures on our organisation are considerable but our ambition has not diminished. Your support can help us do more.
£1,000 helps feed our 160 strong Festival volunteer team
£2,500 supports a professional development bursary for a young person
£5,000 commissions a new piece of music to premiere at the Festival
Make a donation
You can make a donation when you buy a ticket, or anytime online, which makes an immediate impact on our work.
Supporter
scheme
Get closer to our work and directly support the Festival’s artistic and community programmes from as little as £15 per month.
Corporate
partnerships
Join our corporate community and associate your organisation with our creative, social and environmental initiatives.
Trusts & Foundations
If our work can help your charitable trust achieve its aims with children and young people, please get in touch.
Donate or find out more at nnfestival.org.uk/support-us
Norfolk & Norwich Festival is a registered charity, number 1164424
Gifts in your Will
Make a lasting contribution to our work. Leaving the gift of creativity in your Will to our Festival Futures Fund will help future generations experience the magic of Norfolk & Norwich Festival, just as you have.
Help bring world class music like the Hallé to Norwich.
© Luke Witcomb
We are immensely grateful to all our supporters – many have been part of the ‘festival family’ for years. One such relationship is that between the Festival and our regional train operator, which celebrated a 35 year anniversary in 2025.
Back in 1990, a Class 86 locomotive was named ‘Norfolk & Norwich Festival’. It signalled the beginning of a long, fruitful partnership founded on sustainability, community and promoting the region.
Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs at Greater Anglia, has been at the heart of that relationship over the last three decades.
‘We’re proud to have been part of the Festival’s journey,’ he says, ‘It’s more than sponsorship – it’s a partnership rooted in shared values. We both care deeply about the region and want to see it thrive.’
Supporting the Festival isn’t just about the arts, it boosts local business, tourism and the wider economy, supports a flourishing cultural offer and helps attract people to live and work in the region.
Thank you to all our supporters who share our vision to use the power of the arts to make our part of the world a truly great place to live, work, learn and play.
Jonathan Denby joins Daniel and Festival performers to launch the 2024 Festival to the media. © Luke Witcomb
The Red Ball Project popped-up at Norwich Station in 2010. © redballproject.com
Partners
We are grateful to all these organisations and individuals who have partnered with Norfolk & Norwich Festival over the last twelve months.
TOAST Poetry
Without Walls
Presenting Partners
All The Queens Men
BBC Introducing
BBC Radio 3
The Cathedral of
St John the Baptist
COMA
Creative Australia
GroundWork Gallery
Historic England
Houghton Hall
Maddermarket Theatre
Norfolk Museums Service
Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Puppet Theatre
Norwich University of the Arts
OUTPOST
Principal Funders
Arts Council England
Norwich City Council
Funders
Norfolk County Council
Trusts, Foundations &
Grant Giving Organisations
The Arts Society Norwich
The Bacon Charitable Trust
The Earle & Stuart
Charitable Trust
The Ellerdale Trust
The John Jarrold Trust
The Paul Bassham
Charitable Trust
Programme Partners
National Centre for Writing
Norwich Theatre
Sainsbury Centre
Sheringham Little Theatre
St George’s Theatre
St Peter Mancroft
The Yard Coffee
Corporate Partners & Support
Adnams
Artlist
Ashtons Legal
Big Sky Acoustics
Big Sky Living
Birketts
Camtrak
Chadwicks
Dipple & Conway
Epos Now
Fairfields Farm
Future Radio
Greater Anglia
Hatch Brenner
Howes Percival
Jarrolds
LINK Radio
Maids Head Hotel
Motus Truck & Van
Newsquest
Nor-Folk
RBC Brewin Dolphin
Savills
The Forum
Yalm
Yawn Marketing
Schools & Education
Abbey College
Aylsham High School
City College Norwich
City of Peterborough Academy
Clenchwarton Primary School
Drake Primary School
Gaywood Primary School
Gladstone Primary Academy
Heacham Junior School
Howard Community
Primary Academy
Long Road College
Mile Cross Primary School
Nelson Academy
Nene & Ramnoth School
Notre Dame High School
Ormiston Victory Academy
Rushmere Hall Primary School
Sheringham Community
Primary School
Sidestrand Hall School
Snettisham Primary School
Somerleyton Primary School
Springfield Junior School
St Nicholas Priory
Primary School
Taverham High School
The Colman Schools
The Nicholas Hamond Academy
Thorpe St Andrew High School
Walpole Cross Keys
Primary School
West Lynn Primary School
West Suffolk College
Community Partners
20Twenty Productions
4D Dance
Breckland Council
Cement Fields
CHIP Studios
Cinema City Collusion
Cromer Artspace
First Light Festival
Future Female Society
Iceni Partnership
Ipswich Maritime Trust
Magic Acorns
Moosey Art Gallery
National Centre for Writing
Nene Park Trust
Norfolk Libraries Service
Norfolk Rivers Trust
Norfolk Wildlife Trust
Norwich Theatre
originalprojects;
Peterborough Cultural Alliance
Pig Dyke Molly
Queer Birders Norfolk
RNLI
Sheringham Little Theatre
SPILL Festival
St George’s Theatre
St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Swaffham
Suffolk Archives
Suffolk Artlink
Swaffham Town Council
Thames Festival Trust
The Fitzwilliam Museum
The Forum
The Garage
The Hive
The Holloway
Thick & Tight
Wisbech & Fenland Museum
Festival Supporters
Steph & Paul Allen
Brenda Arthur
Simon Back
Frances Berridge
Lynn Biggs
Suzanna & Roger Bunting
Anthea & David Case
Nick & Juliet Collier
Tony & Juliet Colman
Justine & Damien Conway
Jennifer Cooper
Jonathan Cooper
& Daniel Brine
Fred Corbett
Nicholas & Caroline Dixey
Alison Dow
Ann Ford
Jane Hawksley
Mark & Lesley-Ann Hewett
Len & Rachel Hobson
Gemma Hoskins
John Howkins
Saul Humphrey
Nichola Johnson
Caroline Kennedy-Chivers
Julia Leach & Patrick Smith
Alice Liddle
Shaun Lincoln
Greg Lovett
Neil McDonald
Jim McKay
Jamie McLeod
Jonathan & Karen Needham
Dave Plummer & Lesley Whitby
Stephanie Renouf
Nicole & Keith Roberts
Roger Rowe MBE
Amanda Sandland Taylor
& Roger Holden
Baroness Freddie van Til
Olwyn & Paul Venn
Jim & Sara Webber
Mollie Whitworth
Chris & Sue Williams
Paddy Wilson
and to all those Supporters and donors who wish to remain anonymous.
Festival Board of Trustees
Julia Carruthers
Maanik Chadda
Lucy Garland
Paige Gouldthorpe
Kate Heyman Carreno
Marc Jaffrey
Chris Sargisson
Martin Mitchell
Corrienne Peasgood
Richard Ross (Chair)
Chris Yeates
Patrons
Caroline Jarrold DL
Sir Nicholas Bacon Bt OBE DL
And a special thanks to the 160 volunteers this year, without whom the Festival could not happen.
Principal Funders
Norfolk & Norwich Festival is a registered charity, number 1164424