The Phoenix Festival is the largest free festival in the Cotswolds attracting over 18000 people across the August bank holiday weekend to The Abbey Grounds, Cirencester. Created in 2013, The festival is the brain-child of the local youth group who wanted to put something on in Cirencester that benefitted the whole community and was truly inclusive to all. The Phoenix festival holds a track record of staging some of the most accomplished artists from the local area, plus exciting up-and-coming performers alongside nationally established headline acts. Our creative wellbeing zone, focuses on the connection between engaging in arts, craft and creative activities and mental-health. Our arena area brings the wider community together, inviting local groups and organisations to come and perform in the arena to showcase their talents.

What we'll deliver:

• Hire stages and equipment for the festival
• Expand our creative and well being area
• Cover security + first aid costs for the festival

Why it's a great idea:

This free to enter, community led, accessible to all, music and arts festival proves that a socially cohesive approach to a community event really works. Our festival has creativity at the forefront of all of our activities. This is evident at the festival with the young local musicians who get to perform in a professional environment with industry specialists and also within our creative area and community arena. It has proven over the years that it breaks down barriers between young and old, diverse backgrounds, genders and race. It encourages the ability to be able to work together with the community and to welcome other communities to work together with us to produce an amazing cultural creative experience. This festival has had a deep and lasting effect on the town of Cirencester and the surrounding communities over the years and is now a focal point each year that removes any social and economic barriers that may exist for everyone to join in and be part of.

Steps to get it done:

• Hiring infrastructure for the site
• Creating a set list for the stages
• Organising partners for our creative area
• Gathering groups and clubs to perform in our Community Arena

This successful live music festival is set in the heart of the Cotswold’s and embraces the beautiful historic surroundings of the Abbey Grounds right in the centre of Cirencester. The Phoenix Festival is organised solely by volunteers on behalf of Cirencester Town Council and works under the charitable guidance of the Cirencester Community Development Trust. The aims and objectives of the Phoenix Festival are to provide a totally free to enter event experience for all people of all ages with varying musical tastes that welcomes young people and their families. It intends to make a statement in our town, to inspire and engage everyone young and old and give local artists a platform to showcase their talents.