About The Festival
Culture and Community, the South Downs Way!
Established in 2006
The Steyning Festival, conceived in 2006, aimed to strengthen community bonds, boost pride, attract visitors, and support local businesses. Led by Ann Poupard and local residents, the first festival in 2007 celebrated Steyning’s heritage, local talent, and visiting artists, goals that remain relevant.
In 2025, we have reviewed and evaluated the Festival’s performance to produce a festival plan for 2025-2026. This updated plan is anticipated to support improvements for the next Festival in 2026 and ensure that it continues to grow and evolve. The plan also reflects our aim to continue to ensure our sustainability and longevity, whilst remaining true to the original ethos of inclusivity and community.
Our Aims
High Quality
Diversity
Futureproof
To be financially successful so that the future of the Festival is secure and to allow for future ambitions and expansion.
Our Mission
To increase the number of tickets sold and the number of ticket buyers, and to further develop the Festival to build on past successes and secure its future.
Our Structure, People And Values
Team of Organisers:
Form a core festival management team to analyse past performance and plan between and in the build-up to the next festival.
Expand key volunteer teams (particularly marketing) to add expertise and share the workload – structured to report to lead coordinators and the core management team.
Festival Supporters:
Refine and develop the benefit packages for Friends.
Develop events sponsorship packages.
Programme:
Build on the success and key learning from 2024, particularly in identifying key events to drive sales well in advance.
Optimise the programme and marketing to maximise ticket sales for roughly 70 events across 10–12 days.