Organisers behind the Devizes Arts Festival say they are “incredibly excited” to bring a new programme of events to the town.

The Devizes Arts Festival is a non-profit organisation that typically showcases an amazing variety of performers - speakers, classical, folk, rock, jazz artists, comedians, poets, dancers in June every year.

Pre-covid, it attracted people ‘from Salisbury to Sweden.’

The difficult decision was made to cancel last year’s festival, and this year, the decision was made to push back the festival to November.

The Devizes Arts Festival is back will kick off with a mini festival in November, with more details to be revealed soon.

Margaret Bryant, Devizes Arts Festival committee chair said: “We have been carrying out our meetings throughout Zoom during the pandemic, and tried to think of ideas and solutions.

“It felt better to plan for later in the year when, as has happened, covid restrictions would have hopefully eased.

“People have really missed the festival and we were so disappointed we couldn’t go ahead last year, which makes us all the more excited for next year.”

Vivienne Cuckow explained that the committee had spoken with ‘friends’ of the festival and got feedback on how confident people were to return to large scale events.

She added: “After two years of waiting for this, we’re so excited to bring people together again in the town. And the Arts Festival brings a lot of people to the town, and to our shops and restaurants as a result.”

The committee have also issued a “huge thank you” to all who have supported the festival over the last year including the friends of the festival who paid subscriptions, as well as patient venues and acts.

Tony Woodison added: “People have been incredibly supportive, and we’re hoping to give back with the new programme.”

As well as the acts lined up for the festival already, there are also a number of free “fringe” style events still to be announced. Go to www.devizesartsfestival.org.uk to find out more