Cheltenham Festivals has recently launched the Connections Scheme to help provide people with free tickets.
Arts, culture and literature are all around us. But very few people immediately think of the barriers that others may face to get access to these things that are often taken for granted.
Enriching your life and learning new things should not be something that is considered a luxury to be able to do.
Cheltenham Festivals recognised this and, earlier this year, they took action to ensure that their events are within reach of people who may not usually be able to afford to attend.
The Connections scheme was set up to help people who may have usually had to miss out to finally be able to access festival events.
It was first implemented at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival in April 2022 and carried on at the Cheltenham Science Festival and now Cheltenham Literature Festival.
In addition to this, the Cheltenham Festivals have begun running more accessible events. This was seen with the arrival of the Voicebox in 2021 at the Cheltenham Literature Festival – where all events remain free for everyone.
The scheme was made possible with the help from Cheltenham Festival Patrons and the Summerfield Charitable Trust.
The tickets from this funded programme have also been distributed by both Caring for Communities and People and Cheltenham Welcome Refugees.
Nathalie Genes, the Chair of Cheltenham Welcome Refugees says, “it is important that minority communities to engage with the festivals to help them feel part of the community and debunk the idea that the festivals are only for those who can afford it.”
Cheltenham Festivals believe that this scheme is important for the community and have vowed to grow the programme, believing in providing “equity and access to all.”
Breaking down barriers to access is a key aim of the scheme.
But how important is this scheme to members of the public?
See below to find out more about what the public thinks:
Find out more about the Connections
scheme here.
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