ST IVES SEPTEMBER FRINGE FESTIVAL

The fringe festival that springs from the heart of St Ives
Although there has been an annual September festival of the arts in St Ives for half a century, 2003 saw a significant development in this established cultural tradition. For some years, a growing ‘fringe’ festival had been adding to the diversity and strength of the September fortnight but when, in early 2003, the organisers of the ‘official event’ decided that they could not stage that year’s festival, it was, at first, assumed that would be the end of the whole event. But St Ives has benefited greatly from the ‘festival effect’ and, to some, it seemed unthinkable that there would not be a two week event that year to maintain the burnish on St Ives credentials as a vibrant and world renowned centre for arts, performance and crafts as well as boost the off season tourist trade.

  Step up then, Colin T Johnston, a man with a history of getting things done. Colin is an accomplished artist of international renown who has exhibited around the world; a writer and a passionate aficionado of Jazz and Blues. As is often the case, to get something done takes a busy person and, with a full plate of work that would furnish, for some people, a perfect excuse to look the other way, Colin filled the part to perfection. He assembled around him a group of like minded people, determined that St Ives should not lose its Autumn jewel and with an enormous effort, the show was put on the road or, rather, all around the town. Local businesses and the people of St Ives were canvassed for support, responding not only with money but also venues, catering, accommodation, literature, promotional material, publicity and even a presence on the Worldwide Web. This was a festival of the people in a true and apolitical sense and it was a resounding success.

  It would take far too long to recount the many events that extended the summer of 2003 well into September. There were days and nights when it seemed that everywhere one went in this lovely town, there was some sort of performance being staged or exhibit to be seen. From musicians of national renown to local performers, from classical to blues and bluegrass music, from best selling novelists to poets and actors recreating the exploits of people whose influence has so enriched the air of St Ives or exhibits of the works of those artists inspired by that enriched air and the amazingly clear light of the UK’s best known art colony. It was even possible to take guided walks around the town retracing the lives and events that have permeated the granite walls of this warm and creative community.

  There are already tentative plans afoot to stage a 2004 St Ives September Fringe Festival from the tenth to the twenty fifth of September but, as a wholly grass roots (or should that be ‘from the cobbles up’?) organisation, the Festival organisers can only commit whatever efforts and time the individual members have available. Still, the runes are looking good and meetings have been convened so keep checking this space where we will be announcing the outcome of everybody’s efforts and, hopefully, building the new programme for you to see as it develops and fills.

  For the time being, have a look at last year’s programme or print off the PDF from St Ives Times & Echo. It will show what a great time we all had in 2003 and what could be in store for 2004.

>> LAST YEARS PROGRAMME