"It will put Epsom on the map" - Creative and performing arts institutions back calls to start arts festival

Artist Sarah Dewing said she believes Epsom's creative side is not being promoted enough and Epsom Council should support the hosting of a festival by funding an arts officer.

The idea has been backed by some of the candidates hoping to become Epsom's MP, but others have warned the cash-strapped council would not be able to afford it.

Ms Dewing said: "If Mole Valley can have an arts festival why not Epsom? It will put Epsom on the map for more than just Epsom salts and a horse race."

Top performing arts college Laine Theatre Arts, the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) and Nescot college told this newspaper they would support the creation of an arts festival.

A UCA spokeswoman said: "We would support an arts festival in Epsom and as a first step we would be happy to host a meeting bringing the key players together."

Laine Theatre Arts also offered its support, and said: "Anything celebrating the arts is good for the heart and soul of the community."

Meanwhile Nescot said it would potentially be happy for its facilities to be used as venues for an arts festival events.

A spokeswoman said: "Nescot fully supports the principle of an arts festival in Epsom, and would be delighted to involve students and staff in getting the festival off the ground."

In the past Nescot has welcomed the Beatles, Queen, Black Sabbath and Genesis to Ewell, while Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page grew up in Epsom and the Rolling Stones have also played here.

Robin Henderson, director of the Realistic Music Academy, in East Street, which helps to train young musicians, said he would support having an arts festival.

He said: "There’s never really been anything in the summer. It would be great if there was, we could get lots of people involved."

Hundreds of overseas visitors are expected to descend on Epsom next summer for a choral festival featuring choirs from its twin town in Chantilly, France, and other towns in Germany and Belgium.

Chairman of Epsom's twinning committee, Clive Woodbridge, who is standing as a Residents' Association candidate for Epsom Council, said: "Perhaps this is the first toe in the water. Maybe if this goes well it’s something we can build on in the future."

Epsom Council said it could not comment due to "purdah" rules on elections.

• Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Stephen Gee said: "It would be great for Epsom Council to support this and I'm sure the overall benefit to the area would be cost neutral at the very least. 

"To get things moving I think the money should be found to support this or maybe share the costs of an arts officer with Mole Valley." 

• Labour candidate Sheila Carlson said she supported an arts festival in principle but said: "Our council would find it impossible to justify funding for such a festival".

She added: "Ms Dewing might think it is a priority, I don't think residents would view it as highly as having a services for the elderly, affordable housing and leisure facilities within Epsom and Ewell." 

• UKIP candidate Robert Leach, a musician, said: "I am all for promoting the arts, but not for committing the borough council to additional expenditure on an arts officer.

"The borough council already runs a theatre and a museum, which many larger authorities do not."

• Conservative candidate Chris Grayling said: "Epsom is a town with a wide range of creative activities, and if the council could draw everyone together into establishing an arts festival, it would certainly be good for the area.

"It might be something we could do in Derby week as part of the annual celebrations."

• Independent hopeful Lionel Blackman said: "Together with Bourne Hall and other venues throughout the Borough, including Churches and colleges, we have the facilities and transport connections to stage a super arts festival.

"With local council support I am sure a successful festival could be founded here."

• Independent candidate Gareth Harfoot said: "Does Epsom need an Arts Festival? No, the same way Notting Hill doesn’t ‘need’ a carnival.

"Is it a good idea? Sure, anything that encourages community and local commerce can be no bad thing, in fact if they would like a film component to the festival I humbly offer any assistance I can provide."

• Green Party candidate Susan McGrath said: "I think an arts festival sounds like a brilliant idea. Both of my children are training in the arts and it is precisely at challenging times we need to arts to get us to lift our heads and see the bigger picture and challenge our thinking. 

​"It is also a great force within the local economy to bring money in and circulate it within local businesses."

What do you think? Does Epsom need an arts festival? Please leave a comment below or email alice.foster@london.newsquest.co.uk