Get Involved

VOICES OF DIDSBURY (Art Competition)

Submit your artworks - Everyone is welcome!

Drawings, Paintings, Short Films, Photography, Poetry or Music - DAF2023 presents Voices of Didsbury – an art competition where we invite children, families, the local community and everyone in-between to become artists within the festival. No previous experience as an artist is necessary (although experienced/amateur artists are also welcome to enter). We're not looking for perfection here - quality will be judged on creativity and effort, whatever your age or ability.

FORMAT: You can submit your creative works as either:

An Image (e.g. Photography or a high-resolution photo of your Painting/Drawing)
A Video (e.g. a Short 3-minute Film)
An Audio Recording (e.g. a Song or Poetry Reading).

Using a mobile phone will be the quickest and easiest way to capture your artwork in all of these formats - Image, Video and/or Audio.

THEME: This is where the 'Voices' theme of this year's Didsbury Arts Festival comes in... We want you to express your voice through your creative works! What message can you deliver? Whether it be fun or serious, please use your creativity to express something that you would like to say about "Our World - The Good, The Bad, The Happy, The Sad".

HOW TO ENTER: Please use one of the following methods:

WhatsApp: Please send us your Image, Video or Audio Recording using WhatsApp to: 07587 360 415 ...Along with a message stating: *The Name of The Competition you are entering (e.g. Voices of Didsbury Competition Entry); *Your Name; *Your Age; *Your Address; *Your Telephone Number; *Your Email Address...

Email: Please attach your Image, Video or Audio Recording to an Email (or if the file is too big, use WeTransfer or Share From Google Drive)... Then Email to: DAFcompetitions@gmail.com ... Along with a message stating: *The Name of The Competition you are entering in the Subject Line (e.g. Voices of Didsbury Competition Entry)... Then in the body section of your message, please provide the following info: *Your Name; *Your Age; *Your Address; *Your Telephone Number; *Your Email Address...

Important Note: If under 18, please get permission to apply from a parent or guardian, and provide their contact details with your entry.

The deadline for entries is 9am on Monday 19th June 2023, and a number of entrants will be selected to appear in our Voices of Didsbury Interactive Exhibitions to be held at The Gallery Next Door (West Didsbury) and displayed in the window of our high-street based sponsor, Julian Wadden (Didsbury Village).

Good Luck! #DAF2023. Together, Let's Get Creative!

DIDSBURY SUPERSTAR (Talent Show)

Think 'Britain's Got Talent'... but a Didsbury version!

DAF2023 presents Didsbury Superstar – a performance based competition for 6-16 year olds, where we invite young people to showcase their Singing, Dancing, Martial Arts, Comedy, Magic, Juggling, or other "Performance Based" creative skills...

Do you (or a young person that you know) have a talent that you would like to show to Didsbury and the world? From a variety of categories (e.g. Best Primary aged entrants and Best Teenage entrants), a panel of judges will select a number of applicants who will be invited to perform on the main stage at our DAF Closing Event in Didsbury Park! There’s no need to wait, practise can start immediately. You will then need to make a short video of your performance (60 seconds max) and WhatsApp/Email it for our judges to take a look at.

HOW TO ENTER:

Please use one of the following methods:

WhatsApp: Please send us your Video using WhatsApp to: 07587 360 415 ...Along with a message stating: *The Name of The Competition you are entering (e.g. Didsbury Superstar Competition Entry); *Your Name; *Your Age; *Your Address; *Your Telephone Number; *Your Email Address...

Email: Please attach your Video to an Email (or if the file is too big, use WeTransfer or Share From Google Drive)... Then Email to: DAFcompetitions@gmail.com ... Along with a message stating: *The Name of The Competition you are entering in the Subject Line (e.g. Didsbury Superstar Competition Entry)... Then in the body section of your message, please provide the following info: *Your Name; *Your Age; *Your Address; *Your Telephone Number; *Your Email Address...

Important Note: This competition is for 6-16 year olds. Please get permission to apply from a parent or guardian, and provide their contact details with your application.

The deadline for entries is 9am on Monday 19th June 2023, and a number of entrants will be selected to perform on the main stage at our DAF Closing Event in Didsbury Park!

Good Luck! #DAF2023: Together, Let's Get Creative!

VOLUNTEERING

APPLY TO BE A FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER

Would you like to get involved in DAF 2023 and become a Festival Volunteer or Festival Assistant?

A great experience, with perks and bonuses like Free Tickets, Festival Tshirts, Certificates and Closing Party!

You might want to help run an event, get involved in marketing and promotions, work backstage, learn new skills, or simply make lots of new friends.

If that sounds like you, please click here to submit your details and we’ll get back to you with further information.

Volunteer Now

Your festival needs you, because building a better community starts with the people already there

Show your love for Didsbury Arts Festival and the arts by becoming a sponsor, donor, advertiser, partner venue or make a simple donation. As a charity we rely on your generous support to help us promote local talent and show awe-inspiring art to a live audience of 10,000+, and many more online.

‘Stealth is proud to have been a sponsor and supporter of Didsbury Arts Festival for 10 years. The Festival week always creates a real buzz in Didsbury, bringing the community together and driving up visitors to local businesses. We are looking forward to being involved again.'
DAF Sponsor

Your support makes an enormous difference in creating an inclusive festival for all. We are enormously grateful to our past, present and future supporters. All income supports our festival programme and our work with local individuals through creative engagement activity. Thank you!

Sponsors & Advertisers

DAF sponsors and advertisers enjoy reaching audiences through our national ticket agency, our own 5,000 Facebook and Twitter followers, 20,000 DAF website visits, our printed programme and through dedicated press coverage in both local and national newspapers, television, radio and online.

Your donations directly result in free festival activity for the public, community engagement activity, artists’ expenses, venues & equipment, a team to ensure your safety & enjoyment and subsidised ticket prices for those needing a little help

Become a Silver Cultural Sponsor
Become a Gold Cultural Sponsor
Become a Platinum Cultural Sponsor

How to become a headline sponsor or advertiser: email us now on info@didsburyartsfestival.com – adding ‘DAF sponsor’ or ‘DAF advertiser’ to the subject line.

Become a Cultural Patron

We are enormously grateful to all of you – past, present and future. Your donations directly contribute to making the festival happen and support subsidised ticket prices for those needing a little help in attending.

Patrons enjoy exclusive VIP annual benefits. You’ll receive exclusive offers, an invitation to the festival launch, an exclusive Patron’s festival introduction by our director and invites to our VIP events.

‘We are so fortunate to have this wonderful festival right here on our doorsteps! As a patron of DAF I really feel a part of this rich celebration of talent and community which provides such an important platform for local artists to develop their careers.'
Patron’s Quote

How to become a Cultural Patron:
Email us now on info@didsburyartsfestival.com – adding ‘DAF patron’ to the subject line.

Patrons of DAF:
John and Penny Early, Max and Cecile Elstein, Deborah and Jonathan Grace, Terry Sheldon and Carole Isis, David and Sue Kaberry, Neil and Sue Smith, Maria and Robert Stripling, Peter and Judy Folkman.

Friends of DAF:
Edwina Dyson, Jan Iceton, Gerry & Cathy McDade

Festival Opportunities for You

Be part of the next festival. Whether you are an artist, performer, musician, local venue, community group or education centre, we are always open to developing new relationships and showcasing artistic talent.

Here’s how you can join in with the festival by becoming a DAF partner;

Venue & business partners: We’re always keen to discover interesting spaces & services to help host our events and exhibitions. We work closely with a range of venues in Didsbury, from churches to shops and gardens, and would love to hear from individuals and businesses wanting to be a festival partner.

Volunteers: Help make it happen by becoming a DAF festival volunteer. As part of a team you will be well supported with a volunteer coordinator, training and work alongside others to create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for all audiences and artists.

Artists: We exhibit and host the work of artists as part of talent showcasing. Each festival has an ‘open call’ section where local Greater Manchester artists can apply to perform or exhibit as part of our official festival programme. See this page or contact us about our next Open Call.

Community groups & local schools: Our engagement activity with community groups and local schools is a core focus of the festival. We are keen to partner with as many local groups and schools as possible to encourage people to create work in the lead up to and during the festival to encourage creativity.
We would love to hear from you if you would like to get involved with the festival.

How to become a DAF partner: email us at info@didsburyartsfestival.com – adding ‘DAF partner’ to the email subject. Let's talk!