Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage

Staithes Festival has established itself as one of the friendliest festivals on the coast – a must-see event in the regional arts calendar.

This year it's 15-17 September 2023.

During the weekend the doors of cottages in the village are thrown open as pop-up art galleries in a unique selling exhibition. 

The heritage of Staithes is celebrated through a programme of walks, talks, historic photographs, film shows, and a demonstration of how to make a lobster pot!

North York Moors, Scarborough Borough Council and Welcome to Yorkshire
Light on beach

Glenn Kilpatrick www.whitby-photography.com

Where does all the money go?

Staithes Festival has been self-financing since it started in 2012. We raise funds through artists registration fees, and have received grants for specific events from the North York Moors National Park,  Coastal Communities Fund, Welcome to Yorkshire, Scarborough Borough Council and Arts Council England - for which we are very grateful.

Our annual income is around £20,500 from artists registration, parking, programme sales, workshops, advertising and donations. 

Costs include traffic management, brochure design and printing, stewarding, first aid, taxi shuttle, insurance, music equipment hire and PA system, signs, credit card machine, IT software, office and stationery. 

We keep a contingency fund in case of unforeseen circumstances and a festival wash-out, and make an annual donation to village good causes. 

The Staithes Festival of Arts & Heritage is a registered charity.

How has the festival benefitted Staithes?

Full time Staithes residents may take part in the Festival at no charge. Over the years residents have made substantial sales at the festival. 

The festival has run art workshops for local children and worked with Seton School on a variety of art projects, and funded workshops for young musicians.

Chainsaw artist and resident Steve Iredale has been supported in the making of his Shoal sculpture by Arts Council England, and local artists Emma Stothard and Katie Ventress have been enabled to display sculptures in the village. 

Holiday cottages and local businesses are at full capacity during the weekend.

Car parking providers including Staithes Athletics Club used their takings to support their fundraising. 

Richard and Marianne Lyth butchers at Hinderwell have run a pie and pea stall with money raised supporting junior cricket.

Staithes Youth Club have a free fund-raising stall at the festival.

We hope to make many more donations to local organisations, charities and causes, and support / promote their fundraising during the weekend itself.

Donations

Contributions to village charities and good causes continue to be a priority. Since 2014 we have donated £34,790.60 among these community organisations and initiatives

Defibrillator maintenance, Our Lady of the Sea Catholic Church, Staithes Sports Association, Staithes Junior Cricket Club, Mizpah Coble Restoration, Staithes Community Fund, Coble Courier Community Bus, Staithes RNLI Lifeboat, St Peter's Church Repair Fund, Staithes Memorial Hall, Children's Christmas Party, Seton School Art Fund, Staithes Pensioner's Pensioners Outing, Staithes Family History Group, Runswick Rescue Boat, Roxby Church Christmas Candlelit Service, Friends of Whitby Music Centre, Fishermen's Lifejacket Servicing, Staithes Youth Group, Staithes War Memorial Fund, Staithes Festival Youth Bursary Fund, Bank Top Garden Restoration, Hinderwell Church, Staithes Museum & Heritage Trust, Staithes Cricket Club, Staithes Football Club, George Hanson Memorial Fund, Staithes Stay & Play, Staithes Cinema, Staithes Weekender.