Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd November
Across Hartlepool Headland
Sponsor
Wintertide Festival brings the streets to life, illuminating and animating public spaces to engage, inspire and spark curiosity! Sponsor creativity in Hartlepool with one-of-a-kind brand experiences and audience engagement.
The Story of Wintertide
Working at a grassroots level on the Headland in Hartlepool, Wintertide is rooted in the community. The festival creates opportunities for established and emerging artists to showcase their talent and shine a light on Hartlepool, transforming the familiar into the extraordinary.
Wintertide Festival takes place biennially, with a year-round programme of community-driven events that connects our communities, creates a sense of pride and builds moments of wonder and shared smiles. Our centrepiece is the live 3-day event which transforms the Headland with large scale installations, a community parade, day & night art trails, pop-up exhibitions, performances, creative workshops, an artisan market and exciting live music programme.
Local Media
“From top-class national music acts through to its very own film festival and an amazing firework grand finale, the Wintertide Festival proved to be a resounding success.” - Hartlepool Mail
Meet the Team
Hartlepool Wintertide Festival is more than just an event, it’s a celebration of community, creativity and connection. Curated by local residents Rachel Laycock, Emma Wheetman, and Vicky Jackson. As artists and community arts practitioners, we are deeply committed to ensuring Wintertide amplifies local voices, showcases talent and creates space for everyone to be part of something extraordinary.
In 2024, the festival moved to a biennial format to allow for deeper engagement, longer creative development, and more opportunities for artists, businesses, and communities to shape its future.
With significant investment from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, the team is balancing large-scale artistic ambition with meaningful community connection, ensuring Wintertide continues to bring moments of wonder and a lasting cultural impact on Hartlepool.
Audience Response
“Wintertide is such a beautiful event that connects deeply with the people and our place. The atmosphere is lovely, from music, markets, workshops to the local café. There was something different for each day.” - Festival Audience Survey
Our Impact
17,000 live audience members across three days.
Audience
Features on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Local Radio.
Media
Almost half a million online reach.
Media
900,000 people reached through newspaper articles.
Media
Features in Hartlepool Mail, Teesside Live, Everett Herald.
Media
1,739 people engaged in creative projects.
Creative Impact
£135,000 spent across the festival, with £87,000 generated for the Tees Valley economy.
Finance
235 freelancers supported with new work, and 59 volunteers engaged.
Creative Impact
11 venues engaged during the festival, and 64 traders reported sales increase.
Finance
Instant Sponsor
Do you want to showcase your business or project to an online audience of half a million people, and a focussed, creative audience of 17,000 people in Hartlepool? You can join a list of prestigious funders to become one of our community engagement sponsors, and all it takes is a few clicks.
Audience Response
“Wintertide is such a beautiful event that connects deeply with the people and our place. The atmosphere is lovely, from music, markets, workshops to the local café. There was something different for each day” - Festival Audience Survey
Become a Community Engagement Sponsor Instant Sponsorship live within 48 hours.
Bronze Community Engagement Sponsor (£250)
Your company will feature on our website, in our newsletter and on our social media in the lead up to Wintertide Festival 2025 and beyond.
Silver Community Engagement Sponsor (£500)
Your company will feature on our website, in our newsletter and on our social media.
We'll write a feature about your company to share as a story, you'll appear in upcoming print media, and we'll list you as a dedicated sponsor of at least one event.
Gold Community Engagement Sponsor (£1000 - 10,000)
Get in touch to hear how your company could become a Gold Community Engagement Sponsor, or even a headline sponsor of Wintertide Festival 2025. Our packages include extensive promotional options that we'd love to discuss with you.
*Wintertide Festival CIC reserve the right to reject and refund sponsorship bids made using the Instant Sponsorship system. Successful bids will be accepted within 48 hours, excluding weekends. Unsuccessful bids will be rejected and refunded within 10 working days.