
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the 2024 Calne Music & Arts Festival a tremendous success and an appropriate celebration of our 50th anniversary!
Thanks to your support, we saw record-breaking attendance, memorable performances, and enthusiastic engagement from the entire community.
2024 Calne Music & Arts Festival Highlights
Welcoming our new Patron: We were delighted to welcome Brett Dean as our new Patron, succeeding Judith Weir.
Record-breaking Pig Parade: Over 700 visitors enjoyed the Pig Parade, a colourful community art project marking the Festival’s 50th anniversary and 40 years since the Harris Factory’s demolition.
Family Day: Over 500 attendees at Marden House enjoyed Wordfest, crafting, live music, workshops, and circus acts for a fun-filled family celebration, kindly sponsored by Hills.
Sold-Out Performances: The Festival saw packed houses for Flamenco Loco and Patience by Opera Anywhere.
Stellar Youth Performances: We were blown away by impressive concerts from St. Mary’s and Marlborough College music scholars, along with Cherhill Youth Theatre, Calne School of Speech and Drama, the Major Minors Choir, and Heddington School Choir.
Art Exhibition Success: The Open Art Exhibition had a record-breaking number of artworks sold, showcasing nearly 300 pieces by our cherished local talent.
Festival at 50 Anniversary Exhibition: A retrospective display at the Heritage Centre celebrated 50 years of Festival history, alongside 50 selected pieces from the Pig Parade. The exhibition continued throughout October.
Engaging Talks and Workshops: Highlights included Brett Dean and Heather Betts’ artist talk, a life drawing session, Hill's talk, and the popular ‘Drink and Draw’ event.
Musical Highlights: The Gala concert by the Ridgeway Ensemble featured the world premiere of "Breathe In…Breathe Out," a piece commissioned from former bursary winner Ella Roberts in celebration of our 50th anniversary. Other standout performances included the Isla String Quartet's heritage tribute and a lively set by the Leon Hunt Trio.
We are immensely grateful for the exceptional teamwork and dedication of our committee and volunteers, whose tireless efforts brought this year’s programme to life. Our committee and volunteers contributed their time and energy at each and every event, from stacking chairs and preparing lunches to welcoming performers and booking talent and venues. Whether it was hand-delivering pigs around town, liaising with our generous sponsors, or overseeing event operations, their enthusiasm and hard work were instrumental in making this year’s festival one of our best yet.
Looking ahead, we are excited to build on 2024’s achievements, and we invite you to consider joining us as a Festival Friend. As a Friend of the Festival, you’ll enjoy exclusive benefits and help us ensure that the festival continues to grow and thrive.
Thank you once again for your support. We look forward to sharing more art, music, and inspiration with you in the coming years!

2024 Award Winners:
Open Art Exhibition Awards:
Curator’s Choice: Awarded to Helen Simmonds by curator Rachel Heard.
Artway Award: Sponsored by Artway and awarded to Polly Morrow.
Young Artist Award: Awarded by Calne Music & Arts Festival to Tegan Godwin-Deveney, aged 12.
Pig Parade Awards:
Town Mayor’s Supreme Champion: "White Horse Cherhill Pig" by Rowenna, selected by Town Mayor Jon Fisher. Sarah Gibson MP will be taking this pig to Westminster!
Hallmark's Favourite: Also awarded to "White Horse Cherhill Pig" by Rowenna.
People’s Vote Winner: "Rosie" by Jennie Weller, with a £50 voucher from The Little Button Jar.
Additional Little Button Jar Prizes: Awarded to "Harris Tweed" and the Calne Seniors / Reconnecting Group pig.
Town Mayor’s Highly Commended (Community Group): Awarded to Calne Speech and Drama School and "Heart of the Community" group.
Town Mayor’s Highly Commended (Individual): Awarded to "Small Town Pig" by Thomas.
Calne Music & Arts Festival Pig Awards:
1st Prize: "Dragon Pig" awarded a year's family membership at Bowood.
2nd Prize: "Up, Up & Away"
Highly Commended: "Piggles" and "Lance"
Piglet Prizes (Young Artists): "Harry Trotter" by Ellia and a creative pig by 2½-year-old Fliss.
Paper Pig Winners: Mill Race for their display along Marden House windows.
Village Pig Prize: Awarded to "Cherhill Monument Pig" supporting Cherhill Village Hall.
With thanks to Calne Town Council for sponsoring the Calne Pig Parade, to Wessington Cabins and Giving Print for their support. Many thanks also to Bowood, Artway, LWC Drinks and the Little Button Jar for the prizes that they kindly donated.

We would also like to remind everyone to join us for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 13th February 2025 at 7:30 pm. The meeting will be held at the Lansdowne Strand Hotel, in the Harris Room. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the success of the 2024 festival, discuss future plans, and get involved in shaping the next chapter of the Calne Music & Arts Festival. We hope to see you there!
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