About Us
Our
Story
Founded in 1921, the Bedfordshire Festival is affiliated to the British & International Federation of Festivals and provides a showcase for the wealth of talent in the amateur performing arts in Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.
As a registered charity, the Festival is run by a committee of volunteers and a part-time Secretary – find out more about the Festival’s history and the people who make it happen.
The Bedfordshire Festival of Music Speech and Drama was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) in 2019, recognising the dedication of the numerous volunteers who run the festival each year.
The award highlighted the Festival’s significant role in the cultural life of Bedfordshire, providing a platform for nearly 2,000 participants to perform and develop their creative skills.
The Bedfordshire Festival was the first festival to ever receive the accolade – the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise the outstanding work done in their communities. The Queen’s Award was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen’s coronation and is equivalent to an MBE for volunteer groups.
For over 100 years, The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech (BIFF) has been supporting amateur performing arts festivals to provide performance opportunities in their local communities.
Nearly 250 member Festivals across the UK and abroad part of the Federation, and together they provide millions of performance opportunities for children, young people and adults.
With a focus on music, dance and speech & drama, BIFF member Festivals offer a wide range of classes to encourage participation in the performing arts.
BIFF Festivals have a strong education emphasis and provide a platform to perform in front of a live audience and receive feedback from a professional adjudicator.