Canterbury Christ Church University becomes a principal sponsor of the Canterbury Festival
 

Canterbury Christ Church University has become a principal sponsor of the Canterbury Festival for 2008. The University and Canterbury Festival have enjoyed a fruitful and long-standing relationship, with the University supporting the Festival both as a sponsor and as an artistic partner - collaborating on the popular Festival Lunchtime Concert Series, organised by the University's Music Department, and with student involvement in the youth-driven Festival Fringe.

With a new role as a principal sponsor, the University will take its partnership with the Festival to a new level that will harness the University's expertise and the energy of its students to work with the Festival to allow it to reach new standards of performance and community involvement. Canterbury Christ Church University's Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Wright, commented: "As a leading provider of visual and performing arts with a particular emphasis on music, the University is an ideal partner for the Canterbury Festival. Excellence "The University's Music Department has an established reputation for excellence in performance and music education at both national and international levels. We are also developing Kent's first purpose-built music centre, which will reflect the importance of music to our work as a University and our cultural role in the city. "The University's valuable relationship with the Canterbury Festival highlights a joint focus on the continued development of the arts in Canterbury and the surrounding area."   Festival Director, Rosie Turner, said: "Like the Festival, Canterbury Christ Church University is rooted in the city with its sights firmly on the international horizon. Striving for excellence, pushing the boundaries in music and theatre, and focusing on the involvement and empowerment of young people are goals we share. Working together offers both organisations - and the community in which we operate - a host of new, exciting possibilities. We couldn't be more delighted to welcome them as a principal sponsor." The Festival runs from the 11th to 25th October 2008, its full programme including theatre, classical, world and popular music, opera, dance, literature and debate, comedy, family events, exhibitions, walks, east Kent artists' open houses and the Festival Fringe.