A Note From Our Creative Director

Welcome to the Chiltern Arts Festival 2024. We have six days of treats for you this May, and we can’t wait to share that week with you, as we explore the theme of ‘Human Stories’. The programme looks at how we can use music and different art forms to help us bring stories to life, and how we tell stories through various different art forms. You’ll have the chance to experience string quartets, choral works, chamber ensembles from duos to quintets, solo artists, film, poetry and literature.

We are trying out something rather exciting this year: the Festival will be resident for two days at a time in two of our favourite Chilterns towns, as well as paying shorter visits to two others. Our opening four-day weekend consists of two days in Henley-on-Thames and two days in and around Princes Risborough: two charming towns with so much to offer, and with time between events to explore at your leisure as well. We’d love for you to take advantage of the local facilities — so plan a meal or two, browse the various shops and galleries, or simply soak up the atmosphere sitting at an outdoor table with a coffee from your new favourite cafe.

Another new idea this year is our ListenUp & ListenIn project, designed to inspire a new generation of audiences by offering young people the opportunity to attend concerts, and to provide additional resources that will bring them — and you! — different ways to explore and enjoy our events. We’re thrilled to be launching the pilot phase of this much-needed project.

I hardly need to make the point that it’s a difficult time for the arts in the UK at the moment. With many funds unavailable to us, we continue to rely on the generosity of our existing members, donors and partners — and I’d like to take a moment to say a really heartfelt thank you to every single one of you for your ongoing support.

— Naomi Taylor, Creative Director