:Who we are

We are a not-for-profit community group

which brings together people with skills and interests to manage the event and many like-minded friends who are volunteering time to support make this happen.

  • Abi Fawcus created our website and graphics. She is a web designer and digital artist based in Woodbridge and can never say no to a festival! You can find out more at byabi.co.uk

  • Alice Stallard our chair and arts co-ordinator is a practicing artist and qualified art teacher with over 20 years experience in both educational and community settings. Alice creates all the festival’s artwork and posters and has facilitated participatory workshops for clients such as Tate Britain, Waterloo Carnival Arts, Gate Curate and the South Bank Coin Street Neighborhood Centre. She ran a school art department in west London before relocating to Suffolk. More recently, alongside her major works for the festival, Alice has worked on a range of school and community projects in Ipswich and around Suffolk, and large scale, site-specific commission for the Ackerman Studios and Daisy Green Collection.

  • Ben Osborne, our programming director and initial festival founder, is a DJ, creative producer, musician, music journalist, radoio presenter and author. His career includes pioneering late night music events in galleries in London and immersive music and film events across the world. He DJs at and programmes for festivals, venues and galleries; including Glastonbury, Latitude, Chateau Perché, Tate, QEH, Village Underground, The Social, National Portrait Gallery. He’s writes for national press and magazines and has published two books. He’s had radio shows on Xfm, NME Radio, Slack City Radio andTotallyradio.

  • David Jimenez and Maddie Bryett  our in-house bar and catering team and food village co-ordinators set-up Saltpeter tapas and bought the natual wine phenomenon into Suffolk and befor that had huge success with La Fabrica, in Finsbury Park London.

  • Jo Rhodes our word area co-ordinator and press supremo, is a professional writer/ journalist and Senior Researcher/Writer for Which, where she has also been deputy editor for Whcih Travel. Jo was previously stationed at the MailOnline and prior to that, That’s Life! magazine.

  • Patti Mulcahy is our health and safety officer. As Mayor of the Town she was a strong supporter of cultural events and invited us to create the first festival. She now owns Lilac Thyme, a specialist flower shop. Find out more at lilacthyme.co.uk

  • Steve Kippax, our Wellnes area co-ordinator, has been practising herbal medicine since 1985, and acupuncture since 1993. He has worked for the NHS specialising in treating Hepatitis C and HIV / AIDS as well as practising in various private clinics in London, Essex, and Suffolk. He has recently been elected president of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and is joint head of medical services at The Third Space Medicine London’s leading integrated medical centre. He practices at Woodbridge’s Natural Health Centre.

  • Thomas Latimer is a well-known local DJ and presenter on Ipswich Community Radio.

  • AND SOME FORMER COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT WE LIKE HANGING AROUND OUR VIRTUAL OFFICE WITH

  • Alona Ochert is a whirl of energy, a volunteer with the Sea Scouts and Suffolk’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an environmentalist, and leads the development of the festival’s eco activities.

  • Andy Stone is a Woodbridge-based copywriter and creative director with a 20-year history of working across festival brands including Reading, Leeds and Latitude. Andy started his career in music as a drummer signed to Warner Music during the mid- 90s. adventuresincontent.co.uk

  • Archie Tollemache is Suffolk born and bred, owner of Kostomar Textiles, and keeps his eye on the festival’s finances. He’s a music lover and one of life’s optimists.

  • H E Ross grew up in Haight Ashbury, sailed the Americas and is now based in Suffolk. He is an author, journalist, poet, maritime historian and sailor, who brings together local writers for the spoken and written word aspects of the festival.

  • Henry Creagh , a festival co-founder and our go to PR man, is a journalist, copywriter and PR specialist and helps us bring the festival’s ideas to life with a flair for sharply written clear communications. He is the support act for the wonderful Korean Kitchen, koreankitchen.co.uk

  • Peter Bloor Lectures in creativity at UEA and is a writer and musician.

  • Phil Lee , one of our former chairs, works in communications by day. He is a passionate about music, the environment and Woodbridge, so getting involved in the festival was a no-brainer for him. He’s lived in Woodbridge since 2013.

  • Richard Litchfield, a festival co-founder and former chair, is a community organiser and charity fundraiser, part owner of Woodbridge Glamping, and has been blown away by the creativity and energy of the people he’s met living in Woodbridge.

  • Richard Winstanley is a 3D realisation wizard who works around the world, but resides in Woodbridge.

  • Shoel Stadlen is a leading arts communication specialist.