City of London Festival

Each summer the City of London Festival brings the City's unique buildings and outdoor spaces to life with an extensive artistic programme of music, visual arts, film, walks and talks, much of it free to the public.

Inaugurated in 1962 to revitalise the cultural life of the City it has established itself as one of the UK's leading arts events.

Organisers announced in 2016, "With great sadness, and after a long and vibrant history, the City of London Festival will be closing.

In 2014, a new direction was sought for the festival which resulted in new initiatives, introduced new audiences, raised the festival profile and was received with condsiderable acclaim.

However over the years the funding landscape has become ever more competitive and despire receiving support from a range of valued sponsores and supporters it has become increasingly difficult to attract the level ot funding necessary to stage the annual festival.

After a lengthy consultation with the City of London Cotporation (the festival's largest single donor) and assessment of all possible ways forward, the Festival Board have had to take tthe very difficult decision to close the City of London Festival, with the Corporation undertaking to assist with all aspects of the closure.

This is a sad time for everyone associated with the organisation, including all the festival staff that have contributed during the 53 year period, creating such a positivie impact and animating the City with arts and culture each year.

We would like to thank all the brilliant artists and performers who have taken part in the festival over the years, our generous supporters, the wonderful City venues, noit to mention our loyal volunteers and audience members who have supported the festival for so long. The support has been enormously appreciated."