A forest of ideas is growing…
Richmond Arts and Ideas Festival is an event that takes place across the borough of Richmond (and beyond). Piloted in 2023 and due to take place again in 2025, the festival is a celebration of arts, culture, and community building.
Inspired by a theme, events fill venues and streets over two weeks in June. There are moments that provoke noisy ideas, thoughts, and discussions as well as moments for quiet reflection. What unites this festival is the opportunity to seek a more positive future though art and culture.
The festival was established in response to Culture Richmond’s 10-year framework and instigated by the Richmond Arts Service. It is developed and co-produced by partners across the borough. This includes Richmond’s public libraries, arts organisations, theatres, universities, schools, charities, and a wide range of local partners. Through these partnerships Richmond Arts and Ideas Festival is a collaborative, adventurous, thought provoking and inclusive festival.
About the Festival
A festival is germinating, ideas sprouting from fertile soil. Organisations and venues across Richmond will grow into cultural trees, all connected through the threads and network of mycelium festival goers, under the canopy of Richmond Arts and Ideas Festival 2025.
The festival theme for 2025 is Cultural Reforesting, a programme initiated by the Richmond Arts Service. It is a series of artist-led, multi-disciplinary projects set in the context of the ecological crises. Each artist project responds to the question – how can we renew our relationship with nature?
Since its inception in 2021 the programme has featured artists, thinkers, scientists, indigenous leaders and more through an impressive forest of projects. Cultural Reforesting is expanding into Richmond Arts and Ideas Festival 2025. Events across the borough will explore our relationship with nature and reflect on the ecological crisis.
The Theme
Festival Programme 2023
We’ll be back with another exciting programme of events in 2025. For now take a look at our past events.
