22.01.2025
ArtsEd’s first event of 2025 was a resounding success, as we welcomed over 100 guests, representing over 40 businesses, to our annual Chiswick Arts and Business Drinks, held in partnership with the Chiswick Book Festival. This much-anticipated evening brought together a vibrant mix of local businesses, arts organisations, and supporters, all gathered to celebrate creativity, foster connections, and strengthen the rich cultural fabric of our community.
“We started these New Year Drinks nine years ago as a way of bringing together the arts organisations in Chiswick, with the local businesses and media that support them, so they could get to know each other – and it has spawned lots of exciting new partnerships, friendships and events. We have already hit the ground running in what is going to be a bumper year for culture.”
Torin Douglas, Director of Chiswick Book Festival
Speeches, Connections, and Celebration
The evening officially opened with a warm welcome from Torin Douglas, representing both Chiswick Book Festival and the Bedford Park Society. He spoke passionately about the long-standing relationship between Chiswick’s thriving arts scene and its local businesses, highlighting how events like these help cultivate a sense of shared purpose and community investment. Following Torin’s address, Peter Middleton, Headteacher of the Day School & Sixth Form at ArtsEd, took to the stage to share ArtsEd’s mission and aspirations for the future.
“We are proudly one of the most successful performing arts institutions both in the UK and on the world stage. We all know the outstanding calibre of the talent here at ArtsEd, but we want to provide more support for our individuals via our bursaries and scholarships, and allow more young people to access and thrive in our unique performing arts programmes. We need the support of our Friends and local community to help us continue to provide outstanding opportunities for the next generation of young people whose focus is on acting, dancing and musical theatre”
Peter Middleton, Headteacher of the Day School & Sixth Form
Culinary Delights & Outstanding Performances
Guests were treated to an array of delicious offerings, generously provided by our event partners. Chiswick Cinema delighted attendees with Joe & Seph’s popcorn and exclusive gift cards, while Harriet Benton served up their signature pepper pots and exquisite canapés. The Hogarth Club offered discount vouchers and exclusive day passes, and TruffleHound provided indulgent dessert canapés.
The entertainment for the evening, was captivating and showcased the incredible talent at ArtsEd, from the Day School to Higher education.
Sixth Form students Todd Dachtler and Ceci Lihn provided an enchanting performance, accompanying themselves on guitar. Ceci’s rendition of ‘Both Sides Now’ by Joni Mitchell was deeply moving, while Todd’s powerful performance of ‘Say It To Me Now’ from Once left the room spellbound.
Later in the evening, third-year BA Musical Theatre students took to the stage. Emma McGiff delivered a breathtaking performance of ‘Woman’ from The Pirate Queen, followed by Deshawn Gordon’s stirring rendition of ‘Corner of the Sky’ from Pippin, both accompanied by Brook Blackford-Jenkins on piano.
Following their performances, Emma and Deshawn participated in an engaging Q&A session, led by Susie Butt, Head of Development at ArtsEd, where they shared insights into their ArtsEd journey and the impact of bursary support on their training.
Looking Ahead: The Future of ArtsEd
The evening concluded with a heartfelt address from Susie Butt, who thanked attendees for their ongoing support and highlighted our fundraising goals for the future.
“Every donation, every partnership, and every connection made here tonight directly contributes to the development of our students and will help us reach our ambitious fundraising targets to further support talented students and widen access to our training programmes. We look forward to sharing our fundraising plans with you soon.”
Susie Butt, Head of Development
At ArtsEd, we are incredibly proud to be part of such a dynamic and supportive community. A huge thank you to all our partners, attendees, and collaborators for making this evening a truly memorable celebration of the arts.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can support ArtsEd and become an ArtsEd Friend, please get in touch with development@artsed.co.uk or visit the link below:
With special thanks to our event partners:
Chiswick Cinema, Chiswick Book Festival, Harriet Benton, The Hogarth Club, and TruffleHound.
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