ORGANISERS of Royston Arts Festival are cautiously optimistic that the event will go ahead in 2010. This follows a review evening for the 2009 festival held at the Old Bull Inn in Royston, which attracted more than 50 people, many of whom were keen to l

ORGANISERS of Royston Arts Festival are "cautiously optimistic" that the event will go ahead in 2010.

This follows a review evening for the 2009 festival held at the Old Bull Inn in Royston, which attracted more than 50 people, many of whom were keen to lend their support to the event.

As reported in The Crow earlier this month, the future of the festival is in doubt because of a lack of new volunteers coming forward to help run attractions during the festival weekend.

A decision about the future of the 2010 festival will be taken at a further organising committee meeting on February 2.

New chairman of the festival management committee, Graham Palmer, said: "Several people came forward to sit on the committee. The posts of secretary and treasurer were not filled but we understand that someone was actively considering putting themselves forward as Treasurer.

"With this in mind it was agreed that any decision to cancel the festival be postponed until a meeting on February 2.

"Without a Secretary the festival cannot go ahead," he said.

Those attending were able to look back on some of the best bits of the 2009 festival, including many pieces of art and the work of sculptor Paul Bainbridge.

Outgoing chairman Kathy Wholley presented a report of the 2009 event, which concluded that last year's festival was "was a success in the eyes of participants, event-goers, sponsors and the

press," and revealed that the event turned a small profit.

The report also sets out three aims for the future: to run more events for young people, to establish a "key" event of regional interest, and to put in place a more formal feedback procedure.

Any interested in either post or in volunteering a few hours of their time over the festival weekend can find out more at http://www.roystonartsfest.org/volunteers.html or by phoning 07907880355.