Past Festivals
Norfolk & Norwich Festival has a long, rich history as a community celebration
Founded in 1772 as a fundraising event for the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital we have been at the cultural heart of Norfolk ever since. We are a Charity, which holds true to the central commitment of those first events: to celebrate, to share cultures and to bring our community together.
Over the last thirty years the Festival has established itself as the flagship arts festival for the East of England and one of the UK’s largest multi-art form festivals.
The organisation has been an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation since April 2012 and became a registered charity in early 2016.
As well as the Festival each may we have a year round programme of work with schools and communities across East Anglia (Norfolk Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough) to bring outstanding events and projects that provide inspiration and nurture creativity in those who need our support most.
Explore past Festivals
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Norfolk & Norwich Festival in 2022 we were awarded Heritage Lottery Funding to research, record and celebrate the history of Norfolk & Norwich Festival.
Festival Forever is a volunteer led project, supported by Rob Mitchell, author of Festival For A Fine City, who’s research has been brought together in a timeline of passed Festivals.
Get your copy of Rob Mitchell’s Festival for a Fine City here.
A brief history of Norfolk & Norwich Festival
To celebrate our 250th anniversary in 2022 we worked with Eye Film to create this series of animations showing a whistle-stop tour of the Festival’s history.
Festival Forever is a National Lottery Heritage Fund project, with thanks to National Lottery players.
Supported by Museum of Norwich, Norfolk Heritage Centre and Norfolk Records Office
Image credits: Masthead © Chris Taylor | Explore past Festivals © Mary Doggett