Sign up for the 2023 Festival of Chichester

This summer's festival launch on the Cathedral Green. Pic by Katie Bennett

Entries have opened for the 2023 Festival of Chichester.

Festival chairman Phil Hewitt urged everyone to think creatively about some great new events for the summer festival.

“We had a fantastic celebratory tenth festival in 2022, but given that our very first festival was in 2013, I reckon we can celebrate again next year – for our tenth birthday!

“This year’s festival was an enormous success with a huge range of events, a fabulous comeback after the tough years of the pandemic. And like everyone I am sure, we are still feeling the effect.

“We had a slight deficit for 2022 because of all the increased costs. We have worked out how we can address the deficit and we are certainly not worried. We have got a fabulous committee who are all pulling together, but having a deficit was maybe a little bit of a wake-up call. Running a festival isn’t easy. It is a lot of hard work and it is definitely expensive. But all that really means is that we are going to be redoubling efforts for 2023 and we really want and need you all to get right behind us for another cracking four weeks of fun right across the community next summer – and right across all the genres, from walks to talks, from books to exhibitions, from plays to music of all kinds.”

The festival will run from Saturday, June 11 to Sunday, July 10. festivalofchichester.co.uk

Festival committee member Simon O'Hea, who has masterminded the festival’s website, said: “We invite you to submit your entries before Wednesday 1 February 2022 using our online entry system. To submit your entry, please visit our Take Part page. This gives you all the info you need to know about the entry procedure and includes a help video. We will let you know when your proposed event has been moderated and accepted into the programme. We are particularly keen to avoid any clashes of similar events being put on at the same time. If a clash occurs, we will discuss with you how best to reschedule the programme to avoid this happening. The application fee for a single event entry form is £22. For events with multiple dates the fee is £35.

“We aim to have only one event in any specific genre on at one time to avoid clashes (eg one classical concert on any given lunchtime or evening; a jazz concert against a classical concert would not constitute a clash as it’s in a different genre).

"Slots are: morning/lunchtime/afternoon/evening. If potentially harmful clashes arise, you may be asked to consider moving the time or day of your event or changing the genre. Significant known dates are shown on the provisional calendar of events.

“One of the conditions of entry is that participants share information about the wider festival with their members/contacts. Working cooperatively together is our shared aim. In case you are looking for a new venue, or checking an existing one, we have created web pages for many of the venues available in the area. Finally, if you are interested in sponsorship, please visit our Support Us page where you can also access our sponsorship and advertising pack.”

The key dates are: entry window closes on Tuesday, January 31 2023; events published online on Friday, March 24; distribution of brochures starts on Monday, March 27; box office launch at The Novium in April (date TBC); festival opens on Saturday, June 10, closes on Sunday, July 9.

Sign up for the 2023 Festival of Chichester - registration now open