WHY?
To help people through the arts; Social, Economic & Mental Health
Inspired by my own transformation from silence to self-expression through the power of music therapy, we're on a mission to empower people experiencing mental health / social / financiual challenges (e.g. anxiety, bi-polar, depression, PTSD) or struggling to find & be paid fairly for the work they love.
Cheeky Fest is for people who
- empower, encourage & inspire others
- connect, engage, listen & share stories
- are still finding how they coexist with the rest of society,
- aren’t earning enough money to support themselves
- experience anxiety, bi-polar, depression or PTSD
Mental Health
In our shared experience here at Cheeky Fest, we have come to recognise that there's often a correlation between creativity and mental health. We aim to raise awareness of and provide resources to manage mental health; a number of famous musicians have committed suicide as a result of mental health issues. In late May 2019, I was saddened to hear that someone I played music with between 2004-2012 had died by suicide after struggling with bipolar disorder. I’ve struggled with depression at various points in my life.
We are committed to active listening, advocating, educating, and supporting people through the arts. We remain focused on ensuring that help is at the ready for people struggling with their mental health. We want to approach any stigma attached to & raise awareness of and provide resources to manage mental health; a number of famous musicians have committed suicide as a result of mental health issues.
What?
I set up Cheeky Promo in 2013 to help musicians. Since then, Cheeky has grown into an international arts community. Cheeky Fest will help people through the arts; art, dance, film, music, opera, performance, photography, poetry, sound, theatre and/or video.
Cheeky Fest is a beautiful, bold, bright, collaborative, colourful, creative, daring, dramatic, dynamic, educational, empowering, encouraging, engaging, enthralling, ear/eye opening, expressive, inspiring, international, invigorating, joyous, participatory, public, progressive, reciprocal, reflective, social, thought-provoking annual Festival.
Events
The inaugural Cheeky Fest happened at Ram Jam Records in Kingston, SW London on Thurs 29th Aug. 5 acts performed and helped to raise almost 900 UKP for Nordoff & Robbins music therapy charity. We're now starting to plan the next one.
Online community
Curate part of Cheeky Fest
In-person, live, real world events
Get paid fairly for the work you do
Communicate with people on & offline
Connect with, learn from, collaborate with other humans
Have your work featured on the Cheeky Fest website & social media
Education
With 3 year Degrees costing £30K+ and MAs costing around £10K & expenses in the UK, many feel unable to Study or do so and take on huge debt. Cheeky Education will provide education in the creative & performing arts for MUCH less than the £10k/year you'd pay at a traditional university by facilitating skills sessions & workshops across all aspects of the creative & performing arts lead by other members of our community.
Funding for Performers
The Cheeky Foundation will support artists, creatives through grants, enabling them to share their work at Cheeky Fest. (Facebook / LinkedIn / Twitter).
Funding for Entrepreneurs
Share your arts startups and connect with clients, customers & partners.
Platform for & access to invest in human centred arts startups;
Cheeky Ventures / @CheekyStartups, Facebook & LinkedIn.
Venue + Workspace @ Cheeky.Space
Arts venue for Cheeky Fest & WAKTM
Home of Cheeky; Foundation, Ventures, Education & Fest
For entrepreneurs to build creative & performing arts startups