ArtsFest

---

title: "ArtsFest" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["tourist-attractions-in-birmingham,-west-midlands", "festivals-in-birmingham,-west-midlands", "arts-festivals-in-england"] description: "Annual arts festival in Birmingham, England" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArtsFest" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Annual arts festival in Birmingham, England ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox recurring event"]

Field	Value
name	ArtsFest
logo	File:Artsfest_logo.jpg
logo_alt	ArtsFest, alongside stylised hand drawn stick figure
logo_caption	ArtsFest logo
image	File:Birmingham ArtsFest 2007.JPG
caption	The stage in Centenary Square being assembled for ArtsFest 2007
status	Inactive
genre	Art festival
date
begins
ends
frequency	Annually
location	Birmingham
coordinates
country	United Kingdom
years_active
first	1997
founder_name
last	2012
participants	400+
attendance	250,000+
website	https://www.artsfest.org.uk
::

|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+ |attendance = 250,000+ |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. In 2008, ArtsFest recognised The Archers with a plaque on the Birmingham Walk of Stars and featured a reggae performance by Basil Gabbidon. 2009's ArtsFest had a hands-on interactive Bang Goes the Theory exhibition and 2009's KerrangFest saw a performance by The Arcadian Kicks. 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. 2012's music stage was emceed by Adrian Goldberg and saw performances by Poppy & the Jezebels and The Musgraves.

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 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.

Gallery

Image:Approach to Centenary Square at ArtsFest 2005 (42479593).jpg|Approach to Centenary Square at ArtsFest 2005 Image:ArtsFest venue flag.JPG|In 2008, flags were placed at ArtsFest venues around the city. Image:Artsfest 2009 17 - Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 4910862.jpg|Stalls at ArtsFest 2009 Image:Artsfest 2009 22 - Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 4911052.jpg|Stage at Victoria Square at ArtsFest 2009 Image:Artsfest 2009 20 - Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 4910879.jpg|Floral car at ArtsFest 2009 Image:Artsfest 2 - Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 4465959.jpg|Stall at ArtsFest 2011

References

References

1. (2007-09-12). "Get involved with huge arts festival".
2. (2010-09-08). "Artsfest 2010".
3. BBC. "ArtsFest 2006 rocks!".
4. BBC. "ArtsFest 2008".
5. (2013-05-20). "ArtsFest 2009".
6. "Get ready for ArtsFest 2009!".
7. (2011-09-11). "ArtsFest: Thousands attend first day in Birmingham". BBC News.
8. (2012-10-09). "Review: The WM Introducing stage at ArtsFest".
9. Elkes, Neil. (2013-02-09). "Brum festival Artsfest is axed in bid to save cash".
10. (2013-02-13). "Birmingham Artfest scrapped by city council to save money - West Midlands News - News - Birmingham Post".
11. Elkes, Neil. (2013-02-11). "Birmingham Artfest scrapped by city council to save money".

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