The Causley Festival 2021 Fundraiser

WHAT IS THE CAUSLEY FESTIVAL OF ARTS & LITERATURE?

The Causley Festival of Arts & Literature is part of The Charles Causley Trust, a registered charity based in Launceston in North Cornwall. The aim of the Trust is not only to promote and enhance the legacy of the brilliant Launceston poet Charles Causley, but also to provide opportunities for South West artists and for everyone to have access to great arts and literature events and activities.  The arts are so important, not just because they allow people to tap into their creative side (and we believe everyone has one), but also because they are so important to people's mental health and wellbeing. Now more than ever before, we need the arts. 

WHAT EFFECT THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON OUR FESTIVAL

Last year, as the pandemic crisis spread across the globe, our festival committee decided that rather than cancel our festival, we would become a digital online event that would be available for free for everyone. We were determined that we would not cancel our festival and a small team of dedicated staff and volunteers went on a massive learning curve to produce a digital festival that was beamed around the world in July 2019. We reached new local, national and international audiences with a variety of online events including workshops, talks, music gigs and storytelling. Some more established artists gave their time for free where they could afford to do this and we are so grateful for their support, but we were determined to be able to pay artists taking part a fee in order to not only support the cultural sector but to provide hope when so much work had been taken away from freelancers in the arts industry.

CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT

The artists involved in our festival in 2020 picked up the gauntlet of turning what would have been real life event in a variety of venues across Launceston, into pre-recorded events and live online workshops. Everyone really pitched in and what we created altogether was so much better than we could have possibly hoped for. With support funding from Launceston Town Council, Launceston Rotary, Cornwall Council, we were able to produce a digital brochure and pay for Cornwall Channel to put our digital festival together online. We used our festival reserves to pay our artists.

WHAT THE ONGOING PANDEMIC MEANS FOR THE FESTIVAL 2021

With no money in the kitty from bar sales and ticket income from our 2020 digital festival,  we now find ourselves with no money in the kitty to make the festival happen in 2021, to support and pay South West artists and to contribute to the local economy over the duration of the festival.

SUPPORT FOR THE FESTIVAL 2021

Thanks to Cornwall Council, who have pledged to match fund up to £1,000 as part of their Creative Cornwall Calling campaign, we have put this Crowdfunder together to ask for support to enable The Causley Festival of Arts & Literature to go ahead in 2021. We aim to provide a blend of live and online events and  want to be able to pay artists a fee. 

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP MAKE THE FESTIVAL HAPPEN?

You don't have to give huge amounts - every last fiver counts. If you can support us by donating even a small amount we would be so grateful. We want to be able to give our community something to look forward to and we hope you will help us do just that.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

We are offering a range of rewards including raffle tickets to win a chance to stay at Cyprus Well, former home of Charles Causley and now a centre for writers and artists to stay and be inspired. Please take a look at the rewards on offer - we have something for every budget from £5 to £1,000!

Thank you for reading this far and for helping to support the Cornish cultural sector in 2021.