Despite Fire, Poltimore Music & Arts Festival to Go Ahead As Planned
Poltimore Music & Arts Festival will go ahead as planned on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May, despite a major fire that started in the library and ripped through the whole building last week. The festival was originally being brought back after a five-year break to help with fundraising for the next stage of renovations at Poltimore House, following 20 years of restoration work.
As the Emergency Services have installed a 10-metre exclusion zone around the building, the festival will now take place exclusively in the grounds of Poltimore House and will transform 13 acres of parkland into a bohemian paradise. The best way to support the rebuilding and to help a “New Era Dawn” at Poltimore House is to buy tickets to the festival, which start from £35. https://www.fatsoma.com/e/yay1hd0p/poltimore-festival-2024
Although the fire has caused hundreds of thousand pounds of damage, the structure of Poltimore House is still intact. However, the fire has destroyed two decades of restoration work, which had seen the main entrance hallway, the library, surgery and other key internal spaces having been brought back into use.
The festival will now have more going on for visitors than originally planned, with the Main Stage still in the grounds to the rear of the mansion house. The Indoor Acoustic Courtyard Stage will now be moved to the Second Stage located at the top of Lime Tree Avenue. It will feature live bands and the best Devon DJs from multiple genres, before and after the live music. Performances on the Main Stage will run at opposite timings to the Second Stage, so you'll never have to miss any acts. This will give festival-goers an opportunity to explore the historic grounds whilst diving into 2 outdoor stages.
The Indoor Cinema will now be a Woodland Cinema and there will be 2 bars and a range of food vendors outside with a variety of options for all tastes. The Sacred Gardens will still be hosting Wellness & Healing areas, with workshops and activities to help heighten the festival experience, whilst looking after body and mind. There will also be Craft Traders, Slam Poetry and African Drumming.
Organisers The Music in Devon Initiative (MIDI), Exeter University, Poltimore House Trust and Friends of Poltimore House have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support following the fire. It has, more than anything, made Poltimore House, the community and beyond even more determined to restore the building as a space for the public to enjoy for years to come. The Poltimore Music and Arts Festival is now even more essential for raising additional funds to continue restoration work. Organisers are urging the public to offer their support by buying a ticket and joining the community to enjoy a top-notch boutique festival;
“We have been astounded at the sheer level of support since the fire. There have been offers of help for all aspects of the festival’s infrastructure to help it go ahead and raise funds that are needed more than ever to cover the damage caused by the fire. This is a testament to Poltimore House enchanting all those who visit and the whole reason we are keen to see this wonderful asset restored for people to enjoy for generations to come. So please show your support by buying a ticket and you’ll get to enjoy beautiful boutique festival at the same time.” says Nick Hall, Director of MIDI.
Carol Jobling from Friends of Poltimore House says; “Although we are absolutely devastated to see 20 years of our painstaking restoration work go literally up in flames, we are humbled by the support and offers of help that are coming from the local community and beyond. Poltimore House isn't just bricks and mortar, it's a beacon of our resilience and determination. The fire has brought everyone closer together than ever before, so please help us to rebuild and rise again by securing your tickets today. Let's show the world that nothing can dampen our South West spirit or dim our Devon resolve!”
As before, the festival will support essential fundraising for the repair and renovation of Poltimore House, which dates back to the 1560s. It is steeped in local history, having been in use as a hospital, which delivered hundreds of babies and undertook the earliest “Exeter Hip” operation research which made Exeter a global centre of excellence for hip operations. The 1646 negotiations for the peace Treaty of Exeter took place in the Great Hall, ending the English Civil War in the South West.
Over the past 20 years, the two charities had been able to carry out some restoration work from funds raised at previous festivals and events. The 2024 Poltimore Music & Arts festival will build on this to raise funds for renovations. This will help bring the house and grounds back into full usage as a stunning asset for locals and the wider community to enjoy a range of activities together.
