Encounter Festival Preston Secures Major Arts Council England Funding for 2025 Edition
Preston's flagship cultural celebration, Encounter Festival, is set to return on Saturday, 20 September 2025 following confirmation of significant funding of £90,000 from Arts Council England.
This support marks a major milestone for the festival's tenth edition and will enable an ambitious one day programme packed with nationally renowned performances, new artist commissions and deepened community engagement across the city centre.
Arts Council England's backing will help develop Encounter Festival's artistic vision while investing in local talent and placing Preston firmly on the cultural map. The funding will also support a series of artist development opportunities and community workshops in the run-up to the festival, ensuring meaningful involvement from local residents and creatives.
Esther Ferry Kennington, Executive Producer of Encounter Festival said:
"I'm so pleased to see Encounter Festival continue to be delivered annually and this year we celebrate 10 years since the first event. The world has changed a lot in that 10 years, as has our approach, but we're as excited as ever to deliver our iconic torchlight procession and this year we'll be developing the festival village on the Flag Market with great shows and music, food and drink"
Thanks to ACE support, the 2025 festival will host a standout curated programme, including:
- Inspirate's Ancient Giants, bringing large-scale storytelling to the streets.
- Local favourites Magical Story Jars and Let's Grow Preston, offering family-friendly creative activities.
- A brand-new piece from Raggle Taggle Arts titled Rhythm of the Vardo, combining music, storytelling and performance.
The Arts Council England funding will also enable an ambitious expansion of the Torchlight Procession, the festival's iconic finale that lights up the city centre with movement, music and fire.
This year's procession will feature new commissions from Preston artists, creating original firelight-inspired processional works to lead the parade. A central highlight will be a giant puppet of Arthur Wharton, the world's first Black professional footballer and former Preston North End player, developed in partnership with Preston North End FC.
The procession will also showcase the ongoing involvement of local community groups, dance troupes, bands and organisations, creating a lively, moving experience.
With investment from ACE, the festival will also develop a 'Festival Village' across the Harris Quarter, creating a central hub where visitors can gather, explore performances, enjoy local food and drink, and take part in workshops. This new format is designed to encourage audiences to stay in the city throughout the day and into the evening, boosting footfall for local businesses and hospitality.
Encounter Festival 2025 marks ten years since the original pilot, and this new investment is an endorsement of its role in Preston's cultural calendar. The event continues to champion the voices, talent and energy of the North West, while inviting nationally and internationally recognised performers to connect with local audiences.
Further programming announcements will follow in the coming months.
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