RISE by Henley Festival
Investing in a creative future.
RISE is Henley Festival’s charitable programme providing opportunities for emerging talent to learn, perform and flourish in the industries that bring festivals to life. RISE was created to champion up-and-coming creatives in visual arts, music and backstage, providing opportunities where they’re increasingly hard to find. RISE supports talented musicians and visual artists at the heart of the festival, while giving future backstage professionals paid, hands-on experience with internationally renowned lighting and sound companies.
Opportunities and success in the creative arts are notoriously hard to find. RISE by Henley Festival gives emerging talent the chance to explore their creativity in a unique festival setting. With funding, mentoring, professional advice, and a welcoming audience, we provide the support they need to thrive.
In 2025, alongside nine on our RISE Emerging Talent Stage, presented by Westcoast, we expanded our programme with Early RISErs, showcasing local school bands and singers. We launched the RISE by Henley Festival Emerging Art Prize, receiving an overwhelming, positive response and celebrating three impressive finalists whose work was displayed and sold in the Audi High RISE Gallery. Two brilliant bands from RISE 2024 returned to perform in The Bedouin, and our backstage work experience grew to include production roles, giving even more young people hands-on opportunities.
In 2026, RISE will showcase even more from powerful bands and soulful singer/songwriters at the heart of the festival. Discover future masterpieces from our award-winning artists in the Audi High RISE Gallery, and see backstage and production students gain hands-on experience.
We will continue to provide financial remuneration to all RISE musicians so that they can do what they love in a supportive environment. RISE award-winning visual artists receive a financial prize and exhibit free of charge at the festival with no commission taken on work sold and all our backstage crew are offered accommodation and a generous fee.
RISE is actively working with local and national colleges and performing arts academies to find talented individuals and groups, whatever their story, who will benefit from the opportunities that RISE provides as part of the Henley Festival.
To enjoy everything RISE has to offer, why not savour a drink at the RISE Bar next to the stage while taking in new music and the beautiful Thames scenery? Or explore exciting, new, contemporary artworks in the dedicated Audi High RISE Gallery.
If you would like to find out more about the RISE programme, please contact emmae@henley-festival.co.uk
If you would like to make a donation towards RISE and support emerging talent in the creative industries, you can do so here.
In 2024, we welcomed back Bristol-based RISE band, Horses on the Beach, who rocked the post-firework Bedouin with their upbeat, jazzy, big band sounds.
“Our experience performing at Henley was brilliant! The support from the on-site team, sound technicians and artist liaison in the lead up to the event, were all supportive and made the whole process as easy as possible for us.”
HORSES ON THE BEACH, RISE MUSICIAN 2023 AND BEDOUIN PERFORMERS 2024
“The Great Leslie, believe that RISE is a fantastic programme that supports emerging artists of all kinds to present their work to a wide audience while allowing artists to be themselves.””
THE GREAT LESLIE , RISE BAND 2024
“I’ll take this opportunity to thank you for the amazing journey I’ve been on these last few months. Not many artists get to be the centre of attention (along with Conrad, Amie and Beatrice) and in association with such a big brand. Thank you for selecting me.”