But more volunteers needed to maintain event

LAST year’s Royston Arts Festival has been deemed a success according to a report, though organisers are calling for more people to volunteer if the event is to be sustainable.

A report which centred around feedback received from festival attractions revealed that they were considered as either ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ by 96 per cent of respondents, even though it was “radically overhauled.”

Festival chairman Graham Palmer said: “This has been a year of change for the arts festival, but the new management committee provided new ideas and new dynamism.

“The committee and volunteers should be proud of what they achieved.”

The evaluation report will be presented at the festival’s annual meeting at The Old Bull Inn, on Wednesday January 26, at 8pm. It can also be downloaded at www.roystonartsfestival.org.

Mr Palmer stressed that last year’s efforts were made to ensure the arts festival could continue, though this was helped hugely by the signing of a three-year sponsorship deal from Johnson Matthey.

The deal was seen as a huge help considering public spending cuts where being made in other areas.

“There is a real need for more people to become members of the management committee if the arts festival is going to be sustainable in the mid- to long-term,” said Mr Palmer.

“Although we have started planning this year’s Arts Festival, there are a number of questions that need to be raised about the future which I hope will be addressed at the annual meeting.

“It is an opportunity for everyone to have a say,” he said of the meeting to which all are invited.

The 2011 Festival, which carries the theme Crossing the Line, will run from September 29 to October 2.