About the Festival
Welcome
Discover the unique atmosphere of the Pittenweem Arts Festival, where art and community come together in one of Scotland's most beautiful coastal villages. Winding streets, historic buildings, homes, studios, and harbourside spaces become part of an extraordinary creative landscape, offering visitors the chance to experience exceptional art, meet artists, and explore the character and charm of the East Neuk of Fife.
Funders and Supporters
We would like to thank all our funders and supporters. Their contributions play a vital role in bringing the Pittenweem Arts Festival to life, supporting artists, enabling events, and ensuring the Festival continues to be a valued part of the cultural landscape of the East Neuk.
This year’s Festival is supported by funding from Creative Scotland Expanded Festivals Fund, EventScotland’s National Events Funding Programme, Fife Council Strategic Events Fund and Fife Council Local Planning Budget. EventScotland is part of VisitScotland’s Industry and Events Directorate.
We would also like to thank the Helen Main Trust and the Norah Walker Trust for their valued support.
Our Misson
Our aim is to be a key event in Scotland's arts scene, harnessing the power of creativity and community in enriching lives. We want to:
Celebrate Creativity: By showcasing a diverse range of artistic talent, from emerging local artists to internationally acclaimed figures.
Foster Community: Through engaging with local businesses, volunteers, and residents to create a welcoming atmosphere for all visitors.
Inspire Participation: By offering workshops, talks, and interactive experiences, we aim to make art accessible to everyone, encouraging participants of all ages to explore their creativity.
Preserve Tradition: While embracing innovation, we honour the rich cultural heritage of Pittenweem and the East Neuk, ensuring the arts continue to thrive in this historic setting.
Following research carried out in 2023, there are a number of areas of focus for our future development. These areas of improvement include:
Sustainability - how do we lessen the carbon footprint of the Festival
Community - how do we build stronger relationships within our community and beyond
Diversity - how do we create a broader arts experience, to ensure we are inclusive to all
Experience - how do we address areas such as events, catering and logistics to ensure a seamless approach that satisfies artist, community and visitor expectations.
HISTORY OF THE FESTIVAL
The Pittenweem Arts Festival was born from a simple idea: to transform the village's atmospheric spaces - from fishermen's cottages to historic buildings - into unique venues for art exhibitions and events. Since its inception in the early 1980s, the festival has grown exponentially, becoming a much-anticipated annual event. Each year, Pittenweem bursts into life, with artists and visitors from across the globe converging to celebrate the arts. The Festival's success lies not only in its stunning exhibitions but also in its community setting and the shared passion for art that it fosters.
Previous Featured Artists
Over the years, the Pittenweem Arts Festival has had the honour of hosting an impressive roster of invited artists, each bringing their unique vision and voice to our village. These have included renowned painters, sculptors and multimedia artists, reflecting the Festival's commitment to diversity in the arts. Highlights have included such luminaries as Alasdair Gray, John Byrne and, in 2023, Joyce Gunn Cairns.
HOW WE OPERATE
The Pittenweem Arts Festival is proud to operate under a robust governance structure that aligns with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) requirements, ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in all our activities. Our dedicated Board and Trustees, composed of local residents and arts professionals, oversees the festival's strategic direction, financial health, and day-to-day operations on a voluntary basis.
The Festival is a complex project and costs around £130,000 to put on every year. Our funding comes from artist registrations, brochure sales and car parking donations. The events programme is funded through ticket sales and grants. All funds we raise go into the running of the Festival, and we try to make small donations where we can back to the community to thank them for their support. For example, in 2024 we supported the School football team and the new playpark.
We believe in the power of community involvement and transparency in shaping the future of the Pittenweem Arts Festival. We have been carrying out some research to understand more about our community's needs, to adjust our approach to the Festival logistics, but we welcome any additional reflections, any time. We also warmly invite the public to join us at our Annual General Meeting (AGM), where we discuss the Festival's strategy, achievements, and future plans.
Our AGM is held annually at The Art Rooms on the High Street in Pittenweem. It's an opportunity for anyone interested in contributing to the Festival's success or learning more about our behind-the-scenes work to come together, share ideas, and become an integral part of our journey.
This year our AGM is on the 16th May, and is held in The Art Rooms at 47 High Street.
AGM Notice:
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AGM Minutes 2025
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Accounts 2025
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Together, we want continue to build an inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable arts festival that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Pittenweem and the wider East Neuk area.
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Contact us
Telephone: 01333313109
E-mail: info@pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk
Address: The Art Rooms, 47 High St, Pittenweem, KY10 2PG