Lichfield residents can look forward to one of the highlights of their summer as the Lichfield Arts Fuse Festival returns for its 21st birthday with a helping hand from leading developer Barratt Homes.
Having originally been set up in 2001, the Fuse Festival is an annual event organised by the Lichfield Arts charity. Its mission for the last 40 years has been to deliver a vision of a community where anyone can create, experience and be inspired by the arts. This year’s event takes place from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th July.
As the festival offers entirely free entry, Barratt Homes’ donation of £500 will go towards the sponsorship of one of the weekend’s many activities, which includes live music and DJ sets, dance, spoken word poetry readings and a host of family activities.
Phil Beale, Vice Chair of Lichfield Arts and a Senior Fuse Team Member, said: “Fuse is a much-loved local community event that has become a mainstay of the summer over the years.
“The Lichfield Arts’ Fuse team works hard to provide opportunities for everyone to access a wide variety of live music and the arts, and is particularly passionate about giving new up and coming local performers a platform.
“Although formal restrictions have now been lifted we are facing challenges again this year with our infrastructure and service costs having risen substantially. Nonetheless we are determined to deliver a wonderful festival for our community in July.”
After starting out as a small gathering near Stowe Pool, the Fuse Festival is now one of the largest free community events of its kind, attracting many thousands of visitors across its three-day duration.
With the festival unable to take place in 2020 and restrictions still impacting the event in 2021, Lichfield Arts and the many eager attendees will be hoping that the Fuse Festival will be back to its brilliant best this year. Among the many amazing acts is the return of Fuse favourites, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican.
Phil continued: “We would really struggle to stage our free Fuse Festival without the financial support of local businesses through sponsorship and donations, and so welcome the involvement of Barratt Homes and our other supporters.”
Barratt Homes is building a range of properties at its Fradley Manor development in Fradley, and the support of the Fuse Festival is another part of the housebuilder’s commitment to the local community.
Adrian Evans, Managing Director of Barratt Homes West Midlands, said: “We are once again looking forward to support Lichfield Arts Fuse Festival this year as they look to put on another joyful weekend of music and activities for the Lichfield locals and wider Staffordshire area.
“As the UK’s leading housebuilder, it is important for us to connect with the local communities in which we build, and we are more than happy to support such a valuable asset in the Lichfield community.
“In light of recent times, we are encouraging others to support charities and organisations in their communities as much as they can.”
For more information about Lichfield Arts and Fuse Festival, visit www.fuselichfield.org.uk.
Fradley Manor is open by appointment only. To find out more, call the Barratt Homes sales team on 0333 355 8475.
