History & Benefits
Welcome to Didsbury Arts Festival (DAF)! As I look ahead to our next festival and year-round events, it seems only moments ago that I founded DAF in 2009. In the blink of an eye, here we are, going from strength to strength.
As a Board, we’ve challenged ourselves, and our new Director, Rodney Adams, to think how we can evolve to be even better, reaching a broader audience, delivering more Innovative and creative events, while continuing to support and bring together the community and artists, in this special place, Didsbury.
In 2019, over half of our audience were attending DAF for the first time which is more than 5000 newcomers. There were over 100 events, 500 artists, many workshops, guided tours, and over 30 volunteers helped to make it happen. Over 9 days, DAF successfully brought together people and place through theatre, music, visual arts, comedy and much more.
Notwithstanding the unique challenges we face as we plan for future festivals, now more than ever arts and culture has a critical role to play in the life of our community; that is why myself and the DAF team will do our best to ensure that once again the DAF programme excites, connects, challenges and enriches all of our lives.
María Stripling, Chair of the Board
Access & Equality Statement
DAF is committed to Equality and we want to make your time with us as enjoyable as possible. As part of this we will not tolerate any form of harassment, discrimination or victimisation.
We encourage performance and events of all kinds but will not allow discrimination, either verbally or by action, that is discriminatory and contrary to our Equality Policy. This enables us to act in advance, at the time and retrospectively in our commitment to equality. It applies to current and historical examples of discrimination, and to all of our venue, external activity and online spaces.
An individual or organisation is identified as discriminating against another by treating them less favourably than they would treat others. Individuals or organisations includes our visitors, suppliers, staff, clients, contractors, sub-contractors and volunteers.
The 2010 Equalities Act ‘protected characteristics’ that we recognise include, but not limited to;
Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation including LBGTQ+.
We hope you enjoy your time with us.











THE DAF BOARD
Amanda Webb (Treasurer)
Penny Early
Lorraine Gower
Deborah Grace
Kate Jacobson
Neil Mackenzie
Hannah Mahaptara
Charlotte McAlinden
Ravinder Shawe
Jill Taylor
The Festival Team
Festival Director - Rodney Adams
Festival Manager - tbc
Press & PR Manager - Deborah Grace
Music Programme Coordinator – Mike Healey
Visual Arts Programme Coordinator - Helena Hulova Sharpe
Volunteer Coordinator - tbc
Website Support – Light Bulb Web Design
Logo design by Ian Hornby Design - www.ianhornby.com
Contact details – email
info@didsburyartsfestival.org