Culture Fund 2024-2025 Key Client Case Study: Orkney Folk Festival

We’re delighted to report our 41st festival was once again a critical and financial success.

Between 23 and 26 May 2024, we held 51 events across the Orkney mainland and Sanday. This included two free BBC Radio Orkney Live Lounge broadcasts, nine workshops, two talks, a book launch, a pipe band parade and a free music event in St Magnus Cathedral. Our popular pub sessions also returned, and we streamed three events live to folk enthusiasts around the world – making our offering more inclusive for those unable to attend the festival in person.

This year’s programme included three large events in the Pickaquoy Centre for the first time, as well as the return of our Family Folkie event for children and young people. Our Fiddler’s Rally, which has been part of the festival programme since its first year, sold out for the very first time.

Another festival highlight was the Gathering for Billy, held to celebrate the life of Orcadian musical legend and festival stalwart, Billy Jolly, who passed away in February 2024. Every school on the mainland and Sanday also had the chance to enjoy performances from visiting artists as part of our outreach programme, with the financial help of Educational Institute of Scotland.

Overall, we sold 8,615 tickets and had 940 subscribers for our free online streaming tickets, which was 61% higher than 2023. It’s estimated this added an additional 2,000 people to our total audience figure over the weekend.

The total income generated from ticket sales was a new high of £158,989, equivalent to 61% of our costs. Demand for tickets has grown by 52% in the last 10 years, which has increased our ticket sales income by 137% in the same period. In 2024, our Orkney Friends supporter scheme also saw a 19.4% increase in income compared to 2023.

In our audience survey, 77% of respondents said they were aiming to return within the next three years. These figures demonstrate strong support for the festival and its future, as we continue offering high quality visiting and local artists in the friendly and intimate atmosphere that’s appreciated by our audiences.

The support given by funding bodies has always been integral to our festival development. It not only provides financial support for us and the artists we feature, but also bestows creditability on us in the artistic and cultural landscape within Orkney, Scotland and further afield.