Trust Not Ruling Out Return Of Magic Lantern Festival

Chiswick House has issued a tender for winter events partners

The last festival saw displays abandoned in the Gardens

Chiswick House and Gardens Trust (CHGT) is saying that they are not ruling out a return of the Magic Lantern Festival despite issuing a tender for a new winter events partner.

The festival, which is organised by Weli Creative, has been held in the gardens for the last three years. It has proved popular with visitors but many local residents have become increasingly irked by road closures and parking difficulties associated with the event.

This year the event ended controversially with parts of the exhibit left lying around the grounds for several days after the event ended. There were unconfirmed reports that the Trust had to hire contractors to finish the clean-up operation.

A spokesperson for the Trust said that it was ’appropriate that they explore other avenues’ hence the reason for the tender for a partner to run an event between November and January. They said they expected Weli Creative will be one of the tenderers. We contacted Weli Creative to ask if this was their intention but they did not respond.

The Trust added that all events considered will require estimated audience numbers and a considered traffic management plan to minimise impact to local residents. When asked if a music event would be considered they said that summer was the traditional time for that type of entertainment.

February 16, 2018