LIVING ROOM FEST

Aim

Raise funds for festival artists suffering financially because of Covid-19 and fill your Living Room with hope, joy, and fun!

NEWSFLASH: adult and children's streams will be available to watch on YouTube up until 25 May! (see links below)

Many of our friends in the arts scene are facing uncertain futures because of Covid-19 with cancelled gigs, performances, exhibitions, and shows. Many are self employed or work for small charities whose income is often already precarious.

For instance the wonderful 4Front Theatre, who are usually very busy at this time of year touring shows in schools across the country, have put staff on furlough. With no income coming in from shows and other bookings the future of 4Front Theatre is unsure. Nat and Rob have given regular updates on their YouTube channel with Rob modestly saying "things might be a little bit challenging" as a result of Covid. Rob usually has a cheerful outlook on life but there is obvious disappointed in his voice as he talks about all of the shows and activities that have had to be cancelled.

So we we are asking for donations to support all of the artists involved in LIVING ROOM FEST to help them through these difficult times. And if we can raise more than our target of £3,000 we will also put some aside for our Eden Festival next year and make a contribution to #FeedCheltenham.

As ever with Cheltenham Christian Arts, LIVING ROOM FEST brought hope, joy and fun streamed via YouTube to living rooms across Cheltenham, across Gloucestershire? the country? the world? Who knows? (well we do, at least we know we had viewers from as far afield as Nepal, Thailand, California and Canada).

Link to Adult's Stream

Link to children's stream.  

Chris Sandys, local radio presenter comperes the adult stream and all-time festival favourite Tom Elliot, Christian communicator, comedian and magician comperes the children's stream ('oh no he isn't', 'oh yes he is...').

Some of the highlights of Living Room Fest are:

The incredible London Community Gospel Choir

Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir who closed our last festival with an amazingly uplifting set!

Simeon Wood, flautist (actually he plays pretty much any instrument but also watch out for his animated eyebrows).

Out of the Ashes another festival favourite and WINNER of Jump Music Video Award for '2019 Best Rock or Blues Video' perform a more intimate Zoom set.

Bean Baker, Musician, Songwriter strumming his thing in his garage (sorry Bean that's what it looked like!).

Holy Trinity Church, Westbury-on-Trym Choir conducted by David Ogden who has twice led our festival-opening Big Sing events.

Virtuoso pianist Tom Donald again an intimate set just for your living room.

Jonathan Veira, Comic Baritone who delighted audiences at our last festival comes right into your living room with his grand piano!

4 Front Theatre entertaining and thought-provoking shows for people of all ages

Dai and Cath Woolridge, Sounds of Wales and Scripture Union

Andy Rushton with a meditative guitar piece and then accompanied by daughter Evie.

Paul Kerensa, Comedian and writer for BBC1’s Miranda and Not Going Out tells the story of the whole Bible in just a few minutes.

Kirsty Hartsiotis, Gloucestershire-based storyteller and writer 

The incredible Dr Matt Pritchard puts on a very special science magic show! (make sure you have a cork, two forks and a cocktail stick for this one).

Bob Hartman, bestselling children’s author and storyteller.

Fire Springs Performance Story Tellers.

Visual Artist Louis Parsons gives some practical tips on painting soulscapes.

Get yourself an ethically sourced, organic cotton LIVING ROOM FEST T-shirt for just £35 which includes a donation of around £15 to our Crowdfunder.

Donations up to the target of £3,000 will be used to support the artists performing at LIVING ROOM FEST

If we achieve the £3,000 goal we will be able to increase the support we offer LIVING ROOM FEST artists whilst also putting some funds towards our Cheltenham Christian Arts planned Eden Festival 2021, and make a contribution to the #feedcheltenham appeal that's providing food for the vulnerable during the pandemic shutdown. Updates will be available on this page as things progress.

This project successfully funded on 25th May 2020