About & Info

History & Benefits

Welcome to Didsbury Arts Festival (DAF)! As I look ahead to our festival in June 2021, it seems only moments ago that I founded DAF in 2009. In the blink of an eye, here we are, over 10 years later, going from strength to strength.

As a Board, we’ve challenged ourselves, and our new Director, Lucy Dusgate, 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 DAF2021, 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. And not just for those 9 days.

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 LBGT.

We hope you enjoy your time with us.