The organisers of Exmouth Festival are already started making plans for next year, and there are some big changes planned. 

For the 2023 event, the festival is leaving the Imperial Recreation Ground as its main site, and events will instead take place in multiple locations across Exmouth.  

By bringing the festival into the town centre, organisers are hoping to create a festival that is unique to Exmouth, with most events and activities remaining free to access.

Joining the line-up you’ll find film, theatre, dance, music, interactive performances and much more.  

Exmouth Festival is also looking for local businesses who might be interested in hosting festival activity. 

These changes have been made following a period of reflection for its organisers, Exmouth Town Council. Costs of delivering the festival, and the infrastructure needed on the Imperial Recreation Ground, have risen significantly over the last three years.  

It became clear that changes needed to be made to ensure the festival’s future. Moving forwards the annual event will be more flexible and made up of multiple smaller events. This will allow the organisers to utilise a variety of funding streams and involve more of the community in its design and delivery. 

Exmouth Town Council are excited by this evolution of the festival and are responding to public feedback as they redesign the event. 

Charlie Tapps arts manager at Exmouth Town Council said: “It was clear from the feedback we received that the public really valued the free nature of the festival. Ticketing the event didn’t feel like the right way forwards at this time, and this would have been the only way to keep the scale of event we’ve delivered since 2016. It has been a difficult decision, but we’ve made the choice to deliver an event that is accessible to everyone in our community.  

"There has also been high demand for a more varied arts programme, and requests to celebrate the community roots the festival grew from. It is our hope that this new model for the festival will ensure its sustainability moving forwards, and that there will be something on offer for everyone” 

The festival organisers want to hear from anyone who is interested in being involved in the festival. There is currently an open call for performers, artists, community groups and businesses to get involved. You can submit an expression of interest here: www.exmouthfestival.co.uk 

As well as new locations, it will also have a new date. Moving forwards Exmouth Festival will take place across the last weekend of July. You’ll find festival events in various locations across the town from 28-31 July 2023. 

Keep an eye on the festival website and social media (@ExmouthFestival) for programme announcements in the lead up to the event.