Scarborough Fair Festival director Julian Caddy departs for charity post
After a tenure of three years in establishing and developing the series of revolving yearly festivals, Julian Caddy has relinquished his position as Scarborough Fair director as its initial funded period has ended.
Mr Caddy said: “It has been a rare chance to be able to create not just one festival, but a year-round infrastructure and I have been incredibly lucky.
“We have put on 14 festival editions (plus a further eight this year) of Scarborough Streets, Art, Fringe, Extreme and Lights – 573 events and nearly 5,000 performances and exhibition/installation dates in more than 300 locations, welcoming many hundreds of thousands of people.”
He added: “I have been able to meet, learn from and work with many wonderful people.
“To earn trust after so many false dawns that have come before, and to provide hope, opportunity and new perspectives wherever possible.
“Together we have created an ecosystem that is genuinely owned by the community, where everyone has agency and an equal platform.”
In his previous role, he was CEO of the Brighton Fringe for 12 years, England’s largest annual arts festival.
“There are dozens of people to thank, especially to Catherine Goble, Amy Crowder, Pete Grundon, Sam Allum, Chris Johnson, the Advisory Group, Caroline Routh, Paul Robinson, Janet Deacon, Jo Ireland, Sally Gorham, Sarah Barrowby and the multiple teams and councillors across North Yorkshire Council.
“I also fondly remember Chris Mellor for all that he did.
“There are so many more, not least every single participant of every Scarborough Fair festival, every venue and person who has given their time to make things happen”.
On his temporarily adopted town he concluded: “Scarborough is a special place.
“Yes, it has a long history, but it also has an incredibly vibrant present and such an exciting future, and hope I have been able to contribute, even in a small way, to help that happen.
“"I also can’t wait to see the Scarborough Fair flourish for many years to come.
“I will still come back often, and I will keep all that I have learned from there with me, wherever I go”.
Returning south, he embarks on becoming CEO of Sussex Community Foundation, which addresses local disadvantage and deprivation that on average, provides £2.5m to £3m in grant funding to charities and voluntary groups annually.
Catherine Goble, The Scarborough Fair Festival Co-ordinator with Mr. Caddy since its inception, takes over as Festival Manager going forwards.
She said: “I am delighted to carry on the legacy that Julian has created.
“It has been a pleasure to have worked with him over the past few years, I wish him well in his new role.”
Scarborough Fair commences on Friday May 29 with Scarborough Streets – an outdoor festival across town centre locations.
Brochures including listings for Streets, Big Ideas By The Sea, plus Fringe and Art are now available at various locations.