Chester Folk Festival
Analysis
Chester Folk Festival is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Chester. It was registered in December 2020, 6 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it provides services.
In the financial year ending September 2025, Chester Folk Festival reported income of £59k and spending of £58k, spending 99% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £4,538 to £59k (+1194%), an average of +90% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2022, when income rose by 746%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.
Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Chester Folk Festival sits at the 72nd percentile: it is larger than about 72% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 63rd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Spads (£59k), Petersfield Musical Festival (£59k) and Cymdeithas Eisteddfodau Cymru (£59k).
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
To advance public education in, and appreciation of British and Multicultural Folk Arts (including traditional and contemporary folk music, dance, crafts and spoken word such as poetry and storytelling) in Chester and surrounding area through the staging of an annual folk festival and the provision of a range of participatory workshops, activities and other events throughout the year.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Spads | Letchworth Garden City | £59k |
| Petersfield Musical Festival | Petersfield | £59k |
| Cymdeithas Eisteddfodau Cymru | Ceredigion | £59k |
| Nether Kellet Village Hall | Lancashire | £59k |