2016 – Review

2017 – Proposals

Overall vision

‘‘ Borough Council’s aim is to continue creating a community spirit involving all residents in Woking through participation in cultural and sporting events.’

“Pride of Place” to live, work and do business in.

Aims and objectives • To continue to have a portfolio of events to promote the Borough to both residents, businesses and visitors throughout the year • to increase the number of people participating in sporting activities and cultural activities • to engage with Woking’s diverse communities offering a range of events and activities • to raise the profile and promote a positive image and develop a sense of Pride of Place in Woking • to maximise the economic development opportunities, including the tourism offer • to develop, celebrate and support a wider national programme of events and activities (i.e. WWI Celebrations 2014-2018) 2016 goals were…

• Promote the strong CW brand alongside partners

• Deliver a One Stop Shop for “What’s on in Woking” with an improved CW calendar

• Deliver a diverse annual calendar of events. Including partner events.

• Build stronger relations with stakeholders

Relations with stakeholders • WWF/Woking Shopping/The Ambassadors/The Lightbox • Local businesses • Schools • Deprived areas • Choices/ Linkable/ Maybury Centre/ Freemantles, Park School • Residents Associations • Charities/ Voluntary organisations • Volunteers • Media Partnerships Budget and sponsorship- 2016

• Budget set at £125,000, delivered programme within budget

• Sponsorship achieved - £41,000 Woking Shopping, Tante Marie, The Ambassadors, Morrison’s Solicitors, Freedom Leisure and a donation from the HG Wells Society

• Grant from the Arts Council - £18,000

• Media Partnerships– Value in Kind £20,000

Surrey Half Marathon

• Almost 5,000 runners started • Children’s race is growing in popularity with over 500 participating in 2016 • A brand new 5km race is introduced for 2017 • Event on 12 March 2017

Party in the Park • Nearly 20,0000 people • Sci-Fi- theme very successful with the Wells connection, drew people from afar and different groups • Limited WBC staff resources for an event this size. • Theming the event each year gives it a unique identity

Woking Food and Drink Festival

- Est 100,000 visitors - Attracting visitors from far and near - Had more resource this year - Surrey Life's Food and Drink Awards for Best Local Food Event in 2016 Summer Sounds - 17 events - May to Sept - Jazz to brass bands - Choirs - Orchestral - Local bands - Nearly 700 attending, quite a few rainy days. Wells in Woking Programme • Promoted Woking as a “Place of Pride” to visitors from near and far • Increased awareness about Woking’s rich Heritage and connection with H.G.Wells through talks, walks and other events. • Increased cultural awareness and participation amongst all community groups and the connection with the authors work. • Increased participation in local walks amongst the community tracing the paths of H.G.Wells • Engaged with a variety of audiences i.e. key partners in town, school children, local artists, voluntary groups, adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, local residents, the wider audience with interest in science fiction and H.G. Wells, international audience. • Promoted the programme to a local, national and international audience.

HG Wells Programme – Outcomes

• H.G. Wells statue – lasting legacy • A three day International Conference • A week long cultural programme of music, drama, Sci- Fi films and talks hosted by The Ambassadors. • Two art exhibitions of locally inspired H.G. Wells artwork. • Ten writing workshops in schools to inspire children to write and enter a short story for the H.G. Wells short story competition.

HG Wells Programme Outcomes • 80 short stories submitted to Short Story Competition • Four guided walks • Eight H.G. Wells inspired talks by academics • Party in the Park with a science fiction theme, 20,000 visitors. • An exhibition at the Surrey History Centre on “Woking in 1895” • Created a Wells in Woking Heritage trail • Limited edition Wells beer – The Invader • An arts trail connecting all the art in the Town Centre

Remembrance Service & other Civic events Other events for 2016

• Prudential Ride London (CW – 3000+, West Live = 6000 +) • Heritage Open Days – 8 participated • Woking Arts Hub –13 arts organisations and individual artists took part in the event this year, from painters to print makers, jewellers and choirs • Fireworks (8,000+ attended) • Diwali (600 in parade, 400 attended event at HG Wells) • All the village festivals VISIT SURREY STATISTICS FOR EVENTS PAGES

2015 2016

May 1,310 5,773

June 2,234 6,407

July 3,002 14,641

August 2,120 10,972

September 1,917 10,572

October 3,041 20,504 Anniversaries 2017

• Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Lightbox • Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Ambassadors and Woking Shopping • 70 years since Kenwood started their first factory in Woking • 40 years since the Jam released their first album • celebrating their 100th anniversary. School projects are planned and the grand finale is the weekend of the Prudential Bike Ride.

Proposed ideas for 2017 • Further research is needed, but we are thinking of celebrating Woking as a cultural hub in the South East with all the anniversaries in 2017. • Celebrating art, music, dance theatre, film, our heritage etc. • “Woking’s Cultural Extravaganza” • Celebrating the past, present and future.

Future ideas

• 2018 – End of the WW1 commemorations • Celebrating everything “green” i.e. WWF, Promoting the Natural Strategy, greenspaces, the canal etc. • A “Summer Holiday“ theme. • Discover Woking.

Budget / Sponsorship for 2017

• Investment Fund £125,000 • Confirm with existing partners/sponsors • Confirm support in kind with media partners • Look for new sponsors • Tender process for events

Resourcing Recommendation

• Overall CW Programme - Riëtte • Party in the Park – Tara Stevenson/ Riëtte • Woking Food and Drinks Festival – TBC • Exploring contractors and event management

Summary • Woking has a 2012 Legacy. • An established annual cultural programme of free events promoted across Surrey. • Continue to attract new and existing visitors (Visit Surrey stats) • A recognised brand with media partnerships and key sponsors • Reach 99,198 residents, 39,467 households + visitors locally, regionally and internationally • Engagement with businesses in Woking and other stakeholders and key partners. Part of the transformation of Woking. • Create a place where people (residents, visitors or employees) are proud to live, work and play. • Investing in the community. • Be Proud. Be Part of it.