Crediton Flag Project

Since the Flag Project began in 2013, more than 70 local groups and businesses have designed and made their own flags out of brightly coloured ripstop nylon, each one representing their role in the community.  During the summer the flags are hung above the High Street shops to decorate the town centre and celebrate our town’s creativity. For the past 10 years flag making workshops have been led by local artist Charlotte Turner, who has helped people turn their ideas from rough sketches into large-scale flags. Admired by locals and visitors, the flags don’t just brighten up the High Street, but have a more serious purpose of increasing footfall and trade in the town.

The project, initiated by Crediton Arts Centre as part of the 2013 Crediton Festival, was taken over by the Town Team in 2015. Originally inspired by the Mortonhampstead Flag Festival, Crediton’s flags have in turn been imitated by other towns in Devon and beyond.

In 2013 and again in 2016, flag making workshops were held in an empty shop on the High Street, which proved a very successful way of engaging more people in the creative process.  In 2016, as well as making 8 new flags, we took the project in a new direction by inviting community groups to make large patchwork banners to decorate shops and public spaces throughout the year.

In its first year the project was paid for by Mid Devon District Council through the High Street Innovation Fund (HSIF), a government grant aimed at regenerating town centres.  In 2016 we were delighted to  receive a further grant from the HSIF, in recognition of the important role played by creativity in keeping our High Street alive. We are also grateful for regular support from Crediton Town Council and many local traders, who have not only contributed financially to the project but volunteer to put the flags up and take them down again.

If you are interested in taking part in the 2023 Flag Project, please contact the Flag Project Coordinator, Rosemary Stephenson at rosemaryystephenson@gmail.com

Here are some of the flags made in 2022

Here are some of the flags made in 2021

Here are some of the flags made in 2019

Here are some of the flags made in 2017

The Fourth Crediton Flag Project 2016

Buy the book(s)

Two highly illustrated books have been produced to commemorate the Flag Project; the initial group from 2013 and an update for 2014. They are available for only £9 and £5 direct from Lulu.