ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: STEPHEN COLES


The Tudeley Festival was formed in 1985 to raise funds for the Pembury Hospital Scanner and since then has promoted over 150 events based at the world famous Chagall church of All Saints', Tudeley. Certain concerts are earmarked as specific fund raising events. In the early days, monies were raised to improve the facilities at the venue itself including upgrading the car park, building the new organ and the conversion of a farm building into the Dr. Arnold Cooke Hall. Three period instruments were also achieved with a Lottery Award as part of the hall project, so the festival now boasts its own keyboard collection. For five years these have been lent out without hire charges in the South-East Arts area. More specific in terms of its fund raising have been £10,000 for the Hospice in the Weald following a performance of Handel's Messiah, and £6,250 in 2001 for new beds for Tonbridge Cottage Hospital with a performance of Haydn's The Creation.

The Festival receives only £2,500 per year in grants from its membership of The Early Music Network Fundholders Scheme in association with the Arts Council of England. Since 1997, the Tudeley Festival has concentrated entirely on period performance and has been described in the local press as offering events of uncompromising excellence.