Tuesday, 08 May 2012

Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham & Gloucester support local arts festival

Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham & Gloucester’s agreement to sponsor the main day of this year’s Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts has been music to the ears of organisers.

The Staverton Retailer is supporting the Choral Day on Saturday 19th May – the penultimate day of the Festival, which runs from Wednesday 9th to Sunday 20th May and features performances in dance, music, speech and drama.

The sponsorship has provided a significant boost to the Festival, which for the first time in its 86-year history has had to seek commercial backing to cover venue costs at Cheltenham Town Hall.

“We are extremely grateful for Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham & Gloucester’s involvement as they have made a sizeable donation to our running costs but also linked the event with a brand of international standing,” said Rod Davis, Festival Chairman.

“We need to raise in the region of £20,000, so their contribution as well as those made by other local companies and arts groups that have rallied around by staging their own fund-raising events, has been vital and will continue to be so in order to safeguard the future of this very popular festival.”

Around 3,500 people are expected to perform throughout the event, which for the Choral Day, will include choirs from all over Gloucestershire and as far afield as Cardiff and Swindon.

“We are delighted to support an event which continues to bring so much enjoyment to people of all ages from across the county,” said Steve Lyons, Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham & Gloucester’s Dealer Principal. “The Festival has been running continuously since 1926 – even during the war – so it is important that we do all we can to maintain its fabulous heritage.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Dealer Principal Steve Lyons (right) presents Mercedes-Benz of Cheltenham & Gloucester’s cheque to Rod Davis, Chairman of Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts