Announcing the closure of MAYK

It is with huge sadness that we announce the closure of MAYK. It’s the last thing we wanted to do, but we are left with no choice. It has become impossible to continue.

The picture for the arts in this country is increasingly grim. Years of underinvestment have created a structural crisis that devalues culture at its core and is causing real damage. It needs fighting for: proper investment, imagination, and care.

The last two years have been particularly gruelling for MAYK, as they have been for so many. In the face of rapidly diminishing income and rising costs, we have been forced to make ever more significant changes – halting plans for Mayfest 2026, moderating our programme, reducing the team, and adapting our leadership. Each decision was made in an effort to safeguard what we believe in most: supporting artists to make extraordinary, vital work that connects people and reflects the world we live in. A world without art-making, experimentation, innovation, and joy is bleak.

We have worked tirelessly to adapt – reimagining as radically as possible, restructuring, and fundraising – but the gap has simply become too wide. We can no longer make it work.

We are so proud of what we have achieved over the years. The extraordinary gatherings. The beautiful and thought-provoking performances that have travelled the world. The animation of this wonderful city, and the celebration of a unique and passionate community of artists through many editions of Mayfest.

In recent years, we’ve also loved creating a home for artists at the wonderful St Anne’s House. Over the last three years, hundreds of creatives have been welcomed there to play, think, and make. We’ve subsidised this beautiful space to make it as affordable and accessible as possible, because artists need space to be. We will miss it very much.

With love and gratitude to everyone who has been part of the last 15 years. MAYK is all of us, along the way.

Over and out.

Kate and Matthew