Organisers of a community arts festival in Devon that was cancelled by the church a day before it was due to take place say they are feeling “heartbroken” by the decision. Thornfest in Teignmouth included art exhibitions, craft workshops, live music from 10 different artists and an open mic-style poetry reading session.
The event - a celebration of the autumn equinox - was due to be held at St Peter the Apostle church in Shaldon at the end of September, but was called off at the last minute on the grounds that some of the programme fell “outside the boundaries of what is acceptable for a Christian place of worship”.
Organiser’s frustration
Organiser Charlie Thorne, who spent four months planning the festival, says the decision has impacted 30 artists and - despite being refunded the fees for hiring the church - left him hundreds of pounds out of pocket.
“The entire event and contents had been public information for months,” he told Business Live. “The festival was intended to celebrate the arts for the autumn equinox, multiple musicians from around Britain were booked (mostly Devon based), artists, painters, sculptors, herbalists and Dartmoor historians. This was a great banding together, attempting to celebrate local arts. The cancellation has been heartbreaking and disappointing.”
Mr Thorne told Business Live he spoke to the church over the concerns and was prepared to change the festival programme, including scrapping some of the more sensitive elements such as the oil anointing workshop. He was also willing to share promotional material with the church in advance, he said.
Church’s response
The church told Business Live it suggested an alternative secular venue - a local village hall - to organisers, but Mr Thorne said it was “not big enough to accommodate the programme”.
“Whatever view one takes of the specific concerns raised, cancelling a community arts event at 24 hours' notice, after months of planning by local artists and musicians, seems a disproportionate response,” he said. “It has left performers and organisers out of pocket and disappointed, and raises real questions about who gets to decide what counts as acceptable expression in our town.”
The Archdeacon of Exeter told Business Live he was “sorry for the disappointment caused” by the cancellation of Thornfest “particularly at such short notice”.
“Our churches are there to serve their communities, and we actively encourage their wider use,” he said. “At the same time, as places of Christian worship there are some activities and events which do not align with our beliefs and values and we cannot permit them to take place within church buildings. After concerns were raised, the advertised content of Thornfest was reviewed and it became clear that aspects of the event would fall outside the boundaries of what is acceptable for a Christian place of worship. We are sorry this was not identified sooner. Earlier conversation with the local parish during the planning of the event may well have prevented this situation arising.”
Performers’ reactions
Dan Pritchard, of Exeter-based band Susannah and the Noise, said it was “such a shame” for the performers. “Creativity and artists are essential elements of our communities in the South West,” he said. “We need more venues, more collaborations, more meetings of minds. I’m sure Thornfest will re-emerge stronger, but it’s such a shame for all the performers, artists, ticket holders and of course the organisers, who have worked so hard.”
Musician Mireia Mussons, who was also due to perform at the event, said she felt disappointed at "not being given the opportunity” to have a conversation with the church about the content of the performances. “The level of short notice of the cancellation given how much money and time had been put into it was, in my opinion, very inconsiderate,” she said. “Young people wanting to put together an arts event is something the area needs more of. Surely the church should be encouraging a collaboration like this and welcoming more young people into the space. Not one person involved in Thornfest had any intention of disrespecting the sanctity of the space. But we never had the chance to show that. All artist contracts included a clause saying 'keep content and language respectful of the church venue’.”
Mr Thorne is still hopeful festival can go ahead at a later date, and is now looking for an alternative venue. “There has been loads of community involvement and support for Thornfest and it is going to be rearranged again,” he added. “We are actively looking for a new venue to host our folk arts event in the area and are open to suggestions.”
