Haywards Heath Arts Festival 2024
Now in its third year, the Haywards Heath Arts Festival runs from the 21st to 30th of June 2024, with events running each day there promises to be something for everyone. Read more about what to expect in this special double-page feature!
Following on from the success of last year returning for 2024 are Comedy at Cote, The Arts Festival Quiz, and Haywards Heath’s Got Talent.
Featured events include an evening with author Graham Bartlett, M and M productions are putting on a wonderful rendition of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and an evening of Sussex folk music with the renowned Copper Family and the Twagger Band. The town hall plays host to a weeklong exhibition of photos depicting Haywards Heath through the years.
This year’s festival will be in support of local charity ‘Finley’s Touch’, supporting children with cancer and assisting their families through difficult times. You can find out more information about the charity at finleystouch.org.uk and all things festival at www.haywardsheathartsfestival.co.uk
Finley’s Touch – Haywards Heath Charity Turns Grief into Fun, Happiness and Hope
We’re thrilled Haywards Heath Arts Festival have chosen Finley’s Touch as their charity partner for 2024. Finley Relf was a clever, funny and imaginative little boy from Haywards Heath who could have given his uncle Al Murray a run for his money in the joke-telling stakes.
But life changed forever for Finley and his family when he was diagnosed with a very rare form of leukaemia – and after a truly heroic and inspiring two years of treatment, Finley passed away in 2021, aged just eight.
Finley’s mummy, daddy and brother, Nicky, Ben and Jacob Relf, have bravely channelled their grief into launching Finley’s Touch. The charity supplies financial grants and emotional support to families enduring what they went through, and joyful Hospital Survival bags for kids battling cancer where Finley did, at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and The Royal Alexandra in Brighton as well as other hospitals across Sussex. The bags contain everything from arts and crafts materials to coffee for the grown-ups, and of course our signature honking rubber chicken – Finley was a big fan of honking his when his nurses least expected it!
We want to spread Fun, Happiness and Hope and reassure children across Sussex and the South East who are facing the trauma of cancer they are not alone. And we’re still trying to convince one of our trustees to become a unicycling juggler and enter Hayward’s Heath’s Got Talent!
www.finleystouch.org.uk
www.justgiving.com/campaign/finleystouch
Haywards Heath’s Got Talent!
Following the huge success of last year’s HHGT, it is returning for a second year as part of the Haywards Heath Arts Festival 2024.
This year it will be a one day contest held upstairs in the Haywards Heath Social Club on Wivelsfield Road. Contestant’s entry is free and anyone aged 12 years and over with a performance talent can enter the competition and there is no upper age limit. Contestants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal.
Last year saw the amazing Daisy Leppard crowned winner – the judges were bowled over by the standard of competitors. HHGT is looking forward to seeing who enters this year…will it be you or someone you know?
One of the organisers, Wendy Swinton-Eagle said, “We are grateful to our brilliant sponsors Mike Oliver from MOIFA and Jo Saady of Ecotecture for making it possible and HHSC for their premises and support.”
Judges this year will be legendary drummer of the band, Blur – Dave Rowntree, Local Diva and Singer/Songwriter – Cylvian Flynn, Songwriter, Musician and Director of Rokskool – Rory Indiana Kaye, Award-winning Businesswoman – Rachel Watkyn MBE as well as Editor of the magazine you’re currently reading, RH Uncovered – Jamie Di Francescomarino.
All proceeds will be going to Finley’s Touch!
Art Exhibition
The exhibition has been curated by Daisy Frost of Seasons Art Class, to celebrate the Fine Arts in Haywards Heath as part of the Haywards Heath Arts Festival 2024.
Artists young and seasoned, professional and amateur are invited to exhibit their work at the exhibition on Saturday 29th June. In the past, pieces have been exhibited from local schools, arts classes, art groups and professional artists.
The exhibition is in its third year growing bigger and better. Wesley Hall on Perrymount Road is the perfect place to house such a big community of artists.
The exhibition showcases all mediums – from acrylic painting and watercolours to mixed media, and sculpture (last year there was even a robot!) It’s a celebration of everything Haywards Heath has to offer, and a bringing together of creative minds.
It’s great to see artists who may follow each other on socials, finally meet in person, and even better to see those in the community who may not normally come to an arts exhibition, being welcomed, appreciating the hard work that has been put into producing the show.
We will be raising money for the Charity Finley’s Touch, so hope that everyone may leave a small donation, or purchase a drink.
Everyone is welcome!
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