Crunch2010: the art festival at Hay will return from the 19th-21st November 2010. Be prepared for a fastastic weekend of debates, performances and late-night parties. More details coming soon. 
The HowTheLightGetsIn festival was a magical ten days. It brought together philosophers, writers, academics and musicians for thought-provoking interdisciplinary debate, incisive talks and infectiously danceable music.
Visitors were challenged by the likes of Mary Midgley, Raymond Tallis, Michele le Doeuff, Will Hutton, Roger Penrose, Philip Blond, Jesse Norman, Mary Warnock, Helena Kennedy, Zygmunt Bauman, Bonnie Greer, Frank Furedi and many, many more. Check out the video highlights here. The festival showed us that consensus across political divides is possible, that science isn’t infallible, that celebrity is out and debate is in.
13th-15th November 2009
From 13-15th November 2009, over 600 artists and enthusiasts made it to the Art Festival at Hay for a spectacular weekend of debate, performances and late-night parties.
In a series of furious debates, Godfrey Barker revealed “a conspiracy at the heart of the art world”, whilst critic Julian Spalding accused museum directors of fabricating a “totally phoney history of modern art”.
The Globe at Hay was transformed by art work provided by T1+2 Gallery, Open Gallery, Hive Projects, the graffiti artist Felix Braun and many more.
22-31st May 2009
The Institute of Art and Ideas presents HowTheLightGetsIn: a philosophy and music festival at Hay.
With a thrilling combination of philosophy sessions, with talks and debates, workshop sessions, entertaining all ages, live sessions, presenting the finest music and comedy in the country, and night sessions to help you dance the night away, HTLGI was a unique and fantastically enjoyable event.
Speakers and Performers included the legendary Michael Nyman, the fantastic Ewan Pearson, Eamonn Butler, Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Professor AC Grayling and author Kenan Malik.
November 2008
28th – 30th November Art Festival at Hay presents 'crunch.art in a new era'
You can now watch all of the debate from the crunch festival and view the photogallery with snapshots of the weekend - just click here
A weekend festival took place over in Hay-On-Wye. Present were very special guests Bruce Millar * Jane Simpson * Gavin Turk * Adam Dant * Joe La-Placa * Charles Thompson * Wolfe Lenkiewicz *Patrick Hughes * Iain Sinclair* Fiona McDonald as they discuss everything from ‘Curating the Crunch’ to ‘The Future of Art’.
Venture outside into the portable art gallery Horse Box and the House of Fairy Tales to see works by Jane Simpson, Rachel Whiteread and Gavin Turk. Get yourself immortalised in the Edwardian studio by artist Adam Dant.
Then take a bite out of this:
• Crunch Launch Party with Brockman's Gin.
• ‘Curating the Crunch.’
• ‘The End of the YBA Era?’
• ‘The Future of Art.’
• Main Panel Debate - ‘Is Recession Good For Art?’
• 'The Credit Brunch' on Sunday.
• Pearce and Ramsey: Guest Curators.
• Video Art Installations.
• Afternoon Tea.
CRUNCH AFTER PARTY + Fireworks + Cocktails AND Special Guest D.J. Alan McGee (Oasis) + Mystery DJ
WITH music from Black Velvet Band, Ivor Van Jivoor, and more