How Towersey Festival benefits Thame’s economy

DID you know that each weekend-visitor to Towersey Festival spends, on average, £495 booking for, travelling to and being at Towersey Festival? That 500,000 people read Towersey Festival publicity material? That the festival’s social media target reach is 250,000?

Festivals employ local people, they buy local goods and services, and customers spend money in the local area. Because of this, money stays, and re-circulates, within the local economy.

This is the message that the organisers of Towersey Festival are sending out to local businesses, to encourage them to form partnerships and get involved in the festival for the mutual benefit of the businesses themselves, the festival and the local economy.

Joe Heap, whose grandfather, Dennis Manners, was a founder-member of Towersey Festival, and who has been involved in the organisation and planning of Towersey Festival practically all his life, explained: “Partnership and mutual benefit; these are the key words. Towersey Festival and its move closer to Thame from this year, is not about us seeking out huge financial support to prop up the event. It has been going for 51 years this year, and has never had a major sponsor (although the right one would be great!) What we are trying to do is better project the true image and value of the event to the local community and in doing so, create relationships that are mutually beneficial.”

“We have struggled for many years to break down the image of an old fashioned ‘Folk’ festival. Yes, the festival has Folk and Acoustic music at its heart but it has developed into so much more than that. Now presenting over 150 bands and artists in all manner of genres as well as staging four, dedicated Children’s festival venues and countless other artistic endeavours such as film, theatre, dance and crafts.

“It’s grown to become a truly cultural event with some of the best live music you can see anywhere, including local bands and it’s this we want to develop further by involving local theatre groups etc into the future.”

To find out more how your business can partner with Towersey Festival 2015, visit the website: http://www.towerseyfestival.com/become-a-partner