Festivals have overheads, as Mr Schofield explained earlier. Even in an event where there are no artists as such to pay, you have to pay for venues, for accommodation for the facilitators, etc. This forum is part of the festival's regular programme of talks, discussions, screenings etc which take place at the Arts Centre. As such, it is taking up the place of a charged event.

Season ticket holders can attend the event as part of their festival ticket. Others will have to pay. If you have an objection to this, perhaps you might like to run a free forum somewhere near where you live. This isn't meant to be a definitive event, nor one representing any particular group or constituency, so I am sure there is plenty of scope for other similar discussions elsewhere.