Dear Stuart Hughes and Chris Wale
I applaud your efforts and I am aware of some of the suspicions that inevietably flow when discussions about the continuation of the festival abound. I raise a couple of points here not to confuse issues just simply seeking some clarification.
The caribean night is a profit making event as you have rightly declared very openly in the past. I understand that without the infrastructure of the arena events in the past the caribean night possibly would not be able to either take and/or raise a profit.
One of the ways forward for the festival, I believe, is to apply for arts grants but in the past this has not been possible because of the involvlement of a profit making organisation (mrs casey music) not the umbrella organisation of Sidmouth international festival.

With the Caribean night piggy backing off the folk arena events it might preclude the access to the large government regional grants that might be available purley because of it being a profit making event. I do believe that in previous years it made very good sense to use the arena site for the Caribean Night however if - and I do say if -it could block fund raising avenues that need to be explored for the continuation of the festival this could be an issue which will provoke much comment.

I welcome very much the news that a late night extra event is being planned and look forward to seeing more details again Your efforts are being appreciated.