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, 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 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