Sidmouth Folk Festival raises £103,000 in 35 days

Sidmouth Folk Festival was forced to go virtual this year due to the outbreak of Covid-19, despite this a fundraising drive to ensure the future of the festival has raised more than £103,000.

Folk festival fans were asked to 'act now to secure the future of this unique folk arts event, enable us to get back on track in 2021 and continue to build for the future'.

This call to action prompted more 940 people to donate to the festival's Crowdfunding page.

Artistic director Alan Bearman said: "£100,000! Amazing! Many thanks to everyone who has supported us since the cancellation of this year's festival.

"That's ticket holders who have rolled over their tickets to next year, all those who have donated and the hundreds who have joined in the Crowdfunding campaign. Sincere thanks to all the artists, businesses and others who have offered a huge range of rewards.

"Thanks too, to everyone involved in the Sidmouth Folk Festival Online-artists, presenters, crew and the thousands who watched. There's still plenty to come through the week and you can catch the weekend's shows if you missed them. It's all free to access!

"Crowdfunding Rewards finish tonight but if you enjoy the Festival Online you can donate for the rest of the week. Thanks again. We'll see you for real in the first week of August 2021."

The festival's crowdfunding page has been inundated with messages of support.

Shelly Collins said: "My dad would have been there raising money if he could, so this is for him and for helping the best folk festival in the world to continue."

Andrew Stanley commented: "Sidmouth Folk Festival has been important to my family for over 40 year. May it go on forever."

Liz Adams summed it up perfectly, she said: "Thank you for being online this year Sidmouth and huge thanks to all the artists and back up team who are giving their time and talents to perform, teach and keep folk music alive in these times."

The festival is still underway, to find out more about what's left on the programme click Crowdfunding page.