ArtsFest

{{Short description|Annual arts festival in Birmingham, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}

{{Infobox recurring event

|name = ArtsFest

|nickname =

|logo = File:Artsfest_logo.jpg

|logo_alt = ArtsFest, alongside stylised hand drawn stick figure

|logo_caption = ArtsFest logo

|logo_size =

|image = File:Birmingham ArtsFest 2007.JPG

|image_size =

|alt =

|caption = The stage in Centenary Square being assembled for ArtsFest 2007

|status = Inactive

|genre = Art festival

|date =

|begins =

|ends =

|frequency = Annually

|venue =

|location = Birmingham

|coordinates =

|country = United Kingdom

|years_active =

|first = 1997

|founder_name =

|last = 2012

|prev =

|next =

|participants = 400+{{Cite web |date=2007-09-12 |title=Get involved with huge arts festival |url=https://www.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/whatson/1682126.get-involved-with-huge-arts-festival/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Bromsgrove Advertiser |language=en}}

|attendance = 250,000+{{Cite news |date=2010-09-08 |title=Artsfest 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/birmingham/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8981000/8981731.stm |access-date=2025-04-05 |language=en-GB}}

|website = https://www.artsfest.org.uk

}}

ArtsFest was an annual free arts festival held in September in and around Birmingham, England from 1997 to 2012. The festival was free for all attendees and featured varied performances ranging from orchestral music, ballet, rock bands, flash mobs, and dance groups. The main venue was Centenary Square, with other performances taking place across the city centre at venues such as Birmingham Town Hall, Chamberlain Square, Victoria Square, the Custard Factory, Brindleyplace, and as far out as Eastside. Exhibitions were also held at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Performances and exhibitions at ArtsFest were incredibly varied. Performances by Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Opera Company, and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra were an annual occurrence, oftentimes together. 2006 first broadened ArtsFest to Eastside, with Aston Manor Transport Museum providing transport between there, the city centre, and The Drum Arts Centre.{{Cite web |last=BBC |title=ArtsFest 2006 rocks! |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2006/09/09/artsfest_2006_review.shtml |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-gb}} In 2008, ArtsFest recognised The Archers with a plaque on the Birmingham Walk of Stars and featured a reggae performance by Basil Gabbidon.{{Cite web |last=BBC |title=ArtsFest 2008 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2008/09/13/artsfest2008_galleries_feature.shtml |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-gb}} 2009's ArtsFest had a hands-on interactive Bang Goes the Theory exhibition and 2009's KerrangFest saw a performance by The Arcadian Kicks.{{Cite web |date=2013-05-20 |title=ArtsFest 2009 |url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/gallery/artsfest-2009-3879538 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Business Live |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Get ready for ArtsFest 2009! |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2009/08/24/artsfest2009_feature.shtml |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-gb}} ArtsFest's 2010 theme was Landscape and Heritage, introducing Folk Dance Fest. 2010's KerrangFest saw indie rock band The Twang performing. 2011 introduced the FlowerFest.{{Cite news |date=2011-09-11 |title=ArtsFest: Thousands attend first day in Birmingham |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-14871018 |access-date=2025-04-05 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} 2012's music stage was emceed by Adrian Goldberg and saw performances by Poppy & the Jezebels and The Musgraves.{{Cite web |date=2012-10-09 |title=Review: The WM Introducing stage at ArtsFest |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/music/review-the-wm-introducing-stage-at-artsfest-3761 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Birmingham Live |language=en}}

In early 2013, Birmingham City Council announced the festival had been cancelled with immediate effect, citing a desire to save money and replace it with a cheaper event. ArtsFest had cost the council {{GBP|130000}} in subsidies per year. Some of the money saved would go towards a festival held for the opening of the Library of Birmingham in September 2013.{{Cite web |last=Elkes |first=Neil |date=2013-02-09 |title=Brum festival Artsfest is axed in bid to save cash |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/artsfest-in-birmingham-axed-in-bid-to-save-1303356 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Birmingham Live |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2013-02-13 |title=Birmingham Artfest scrapped by city council to save money - West Midlands News - News - Birmingham Post |archive-date=2013-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213235023/http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2013/02/11/birmingham-artfest-scrapped-by-city-council-to-save-money-65233-32784824/|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2013/02/11/birmingham-artfest-scrapped-by-city-council-to-save-money-65233-32784824/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=web.archive.org}}{{Cite web |last=Elkes |first=Neil |date=2013-02-11 |title=Birmingham Artfest scrapped by city council to save money |url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/birmingham-artfest-scrapped-city-council-3907502 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Business Live |language=en}}