Coronavirus: Charleston Festival cancelled for first time in 31-year history

Charleston Trust has announced that its annual 10-day interdisciplinary festival will not go ahead due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Salman Rushdie, who was due to be part of this year's festival. Photograph: Rachel Eliza GriffithsSalman Rushdie, who was due to be part of this year's festival. Photograph: Rachel Eliza Griffiths
Salman Rushdie, who was due to be part of this year's festival. Photograph: Rachel Eliza Griffiths

The Firle venue, the former home of Bloomsbury Group members Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, closed ‘until further notice’ from March 19 in a bid to minimise the spread of virus.

Today (March 26) it said it was ‘absolutely heartbroken’ that its Charleston Festival, due to run from May 15 to May 25, was cancelled – for the first time since the event was launched in 1989.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 2020 line-up was due to include Helena Bonham Carter, Ai Weiwei, Salman Rushdie, Gloria Steinem, Lemn Sissay and Carol Ann Duffy.

Gloria Steinem. Photograph: Carly Romeo and CoGloria Steinem. Photograph: Carly Romeo and Co
Gloria Steinem. Photograph: Carly Romeo and Co

In a statement, a spokesperson from the trust said: “It is with immense sadness that, despite our best efforts to develop a creative contingency plan, we have taken the decision to cancel this year’s Charleston Festival due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

“These unprecedented times of uncertainty, fear and isolation are touching all our lives.

“We are absolutely heartbroken that this spring, for the first time since 1989, we cannot cherish the Bloomsbury spirit of togetherness at Charleston: a place that has been a sanctuary for so many, and for so long.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the news, the venue – a charity that receives no public funding and costs more than £1m a year to maintain and open – announced it had launched an emergency appeal, as the closure and cancellation of the festival was having a ‘devastating financial impact’.

Duncan Grant's studio at Charleston Trust, in Firle. Photograph: Penelope FewsterDuncan Grant's studio at Charleston Trust, in Firle. Photograph: Penelope Fewster
Duncan Grant's studio at Charleston Trust, in Firle. Photograph: Penelope Fewster

The spokesperson said: “We are making full use of the government’s schemes to support some staff and running costs, but without any income from ticket sales and spend around our site we are left with a huge shortfall that threatens our future.

“All Charleston Festival ticket holders have been contacted and offered the option to donate their ticket purchases to support Charleston. We have also launched the Charleston Emergency Appeal and ask that, if they can, people make a donation to help Charleston survive.

“We know these are challenging times for many people and are enormously grateful for whatever people can afford to give.”

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

Ai Weiwei who was due to take part in this year's Charleston Festival. Photograph: Ai Weiwei StudioAi Weiwei who was due to take part in this year's Charleston Festival. Photograph: Ai Weiwei Studio
Ai Weiwei who was due to take part in this year's Charleston Festival. Photograph: Ai Weiwei Studio

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: “Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role.”

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.