A POPULAR Basingstoke Festival has been forced to cancel this year because the charity that runs it is facing a funding crisis.

The future of All in the Mind Festival, an annual event that last year attracted 6,000 visitors, is in jeopardy, with organisers, charity Fluid Motion Theatre Company, forced to cancel the 2023 festival because of a lack of funding.

For the past seven years, the event has brought thousands of visitors to Basingstoke town centre each September to enjoy family-friendly performances and interactive activities to promote the power of the arts to boost mental health.

Fluid Motion and All in the Mind Festival artistic director, Leigh Johnstone, said: “With the country facing a mental health and cost of living crisis – and town centres struggling to attract footfall – it’s devastating that we can’t deliver this free event when it’s most needed.

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“We’re passionate about how the arts can boost mental health – whether you’re the audience or a performer – and All in the Mind Festival gets that message across in an uplifting, inspiring way that speaks to people of all ages. 

“Feedback from our audiences was always so positive, including how refreshing it is that the event was free when festivals and days out have become a luxury for many families.

“To keep All in the Mind Festival free we rely on the generosity of funders and kind donations from the public, but the day is by no means free to run and takes a team of us months to organise.

“Unfortunately, this year, we simply don’t have the money to make the festival happen. We hope it can make a return in the future, but with Fluid Motion’s future also hanging in the balance, we can’t promise it will.”

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Visitor numbers were up 50 per cent in 2022 – but funding cuts, fewer donations and a lack of corporate sponsors mean that Fluid Motion can’t afford to run the festival – with the Basingstoke-based charity itself at risk of closure.

Appealing for donations Leigh Johnstone added: “While we might not be able to save All in the Mind Festival, we’re grateful for any donations to help us continue our work to empower people to explore their emotions, express themselves and, above all, feel better."

Online donations can be made at justgiving.com/fluidmotiontheatre.