FAQ (Frequently asked Questions)

FAQ (Frequently asked Questions) - this will be added to over time - if you have any suggestions or other questions - please contact us

What is the readmission policy?
It is a condition of the licence that there is no readmission to the site.
Who and what is ROTW?
Rhythms of the World (ROTW) is a registered charity, operated entirely by volunteers. The event, originally organised by the local Oxfam campaigns group has been in Hitchin Town Centre since 1992. Over the years the event has evolved into the biggest free world music festival in the UK with around 30,000 people in attendance over the two days, from all sectors of the community involved and features music, arts, dance, and cuisine from around the world and the local community. ROTW separated from Oxfam becoming a Limited Company in 2000 and gained charity status in 2001.
Why a festival?
ROTW aims to provide an opportunity to engage in community activity, a bridge of common interest and meaningful interchange between different age, race, ability and economic groups in the community, a stimulus to the arts in the region, an outlet for the energies of young people, as well as promoting North Hertfordshire, raising the national profile of the region as a cultural and commercial centre. A community festival is a fun, creative and inclusive way of achieving these aims.
What does ROTW do for the rest of the year?
Up until now ROTW has put on a well-attended and widely enjoyed festival for a weekend in July every year, however it has not been involved in any community projects at other times throughout the year. This is something which the trustees and committee have long wanted to remedy but simply haven’t had the resources. As the festival moves into this next exciting phase, they are looking to raise more money throughout the year and achieve greater community involvement, encouraging more people to come forward with ideas and support.
What can I expect from the festival this year?
Over the course of two days we’ll be putting on around 120 music acts from all over the world and the local community, there will be the chance to see community arts projects; relax in the chill out area; sample food from around the world; support and find out more about local community groups; buy a wide range of products from the craft stalls on site and get involved in an array of games in the arena. The weekend will offer something for everyone – whether it is the music, enjoying our multicultural community or simply trying something new.
The festival was previously in the town centre, which made it a unique event – why have you moved to the Hitchin Priory?
Due to its increasing success and popularity in recent years, ROTW has outgrown Hitchin town centre, making it no longer a viable venue. The move signals exciting new possibilities for the festival; improving, expanding and getting more of the local community involved. It will be a truly unique experience.
Traditionally the festival was hailed as the largest free festival of world music but now you are charging – why and how much?
Unfortunately the costs of putting on the festival have grown each year - for it to take place in 2008 and to remain sustainable, safe and meaningful for future years, we had to charge a nominal fee for entry. This year's ticket prices can be found here: www.rotw.org.uk/festival/tickets-programmes.php
Why should I continue to donate?
Ticket sales contribute towards the running of the event itself but in order to achieve the aims of the charity and truly benefit the community all year round, donations are still very much needed. We’ll be collecting for this year’s festival on 10th May in the Market Square and at Sainsburys’ on 15th June.
What are you doing to combat anti-social behaviour, under-age drinking and litter this year?
Whilst the majority of people at ROTW enjoy the festival responsibly, as with any large event of this kind, there will always be a small number of people who do not. With this in mind, we are pleased to hold the festival at a site which allows us to monitor the number of people on-site and provide a bit of extra security for everyone. This means that litter, anti social behaviour and under-aged drinking can be tackled much more easily.
In the town, people could come and go as they pleased, will this year be the same and if not why not?
No people will not be able to come and go as they please, however, on site there will be entertainment from 12pm to 11pm with something for every age and taste. As always there will be a variety of music, a wide range of food and drink stalls representing cuisine from around the globe, space to sit and chill out with a picnic, children’s activities and art workshops, as well as the addition of new activities such as sports and games to take part in - all in a beautiful setting. It is essential that the impact of this event on the town is minimised and we ask people to respect the town on their way to and from the event.
Can we still bring our own food and drinks?
Yes each person is allowed to bring in their own food and the equivalent of 1 bottle of wine or 4 cans of beer, cider or alcopops. For safety reasons, no glass is permitted to be brought onto the site. There will be a variety of bars, selling a wide range of alcoholic beverages, open on site for the duration of the event as well as a huge variety of food from around the world.
How can businesses benefit from the festival?
ROTW is a unique event set against a beautiful backdrop. It draws people not only from Hitchin, but from across the county and even further afield. ROTW provides a fantastic opportunity to be seen to support the local community, different cultures and the arts. The festival prides itself on its ethical approach and is world renowned. To promote your company through the festival would provide you with good brand awareness, an opportunity to fulfil your corporate social responsibilities and to speak to a captive audience of around 30,000 people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds over the course of the weekend. Previous sponsors have included HSBC, The University of Hertfordshire and John Lewis, as well as a range of local companies.
How can businesses get involved?
Sponsorship opportunities for this year’s Festival are now closed but it’s never too early to talk to us about ROTW 2009. Please refer to the website for further opportunities and information or contact Cath at cath@ccubed.org.uk.
Now that the festival has moved and it is a paying event, do you still need volunteers?
The festival is run solely by volunteers so we are always looking for more people to get involved.
What can I do?
There are a range of opportunities, from helping out over the weekend by stewarding for a few hours to helping to coordinate the festival through out such as by booking acts, managing ticket sales, promoting the event, designing artwork, managing the website and much more. You can give as much or as little time as you like, any contribution is valuable.
Why should I get involved?
There are many reasons why people volunteer for ROTW - gaining work experience, sharing professional skills, looking to give something back to the local community, meeting new people and simply having some fun; these are just a few examples. As well as receiving refreshments whilst you’re volunteering, as a thank you for getting involved you’ll get free access to the festival and receive a ROTW T-shirt.
How do I get involved?
Visit our website to see the full list of volunteer opportunities or for a chat about how you can help, please contact either of our volunteer coordinators: Alison Watt - 07834363626 Jo Winstanley - 07879 487445. Alternatively, pop along and see us in the market square on the four Saturdays leading up to the event.