50th and last Sidmouth festival?

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 13 Aug 04 - 10:17 AM

I was standing in a queue at the HSBC in Sidmouth when a local person came in and declared that she was paying her council tax for the festival. She isn't at all happy with it. Most of the locals hate coming home from work only to find nowhere to park their cars, not even outside their own houses!

Did I sell lemonade? Words fail me.

Did I sing in the Middle Bar? Yes, but I couldn't stay in there for long because I had panic attacks and claustrophobia. It's my age, you know!

Swam in the sea tho' didn't we Schantieman... and visited Beer, along the coast, to watch the moon rise.

Sal

#8-)

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 09:02 PM

I think it might be better to just have the one Sidmouth thread about the future of the festival, with the other for the reviews and comments. It gets confusing when they start multiplying, PEL style.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 08:08 PM

Worked for me too, tho' not a lot on it yet: what is there has aleady been quoted on one of the Sidmouth threads.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 04:42 PM

it worked for me www.sidmouthfestival.org.uk

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 04:34 PM

That "http://www.sidmouthfestival.org.uk/" link just won't work for me - neither in Firefox nor in Internet Explorer.

Best maybe to keep this discussion in the one thread which seems to be   51st Sidmouth festival

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 03:32 PM

JKL

Thanks - I know you've been a friend of the festival for many years, and that there will hopefully be a festival, not just a series of fringe events next year.

Kitty

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST,JKL
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 03:13 PM

As a Sidmouth Trader I would like to refute some of the posts here regarding lack of trade support.

Quite a few businesses including my own are members of the Festival Patron Scheme.
The majority of other businesses suport it in kind by offering a very happy & enthusiatic welcome to the festival goers.

Most of the businesses in Sidmouth are individualy owned and run
so they do not make as has been intimated large sums of money 75% of them are on some kind of income support.
Also you probably dont realise that we are one of the most highly charged areas in UK regarding council & business tax, even higher than some London Boroughs, they do not put up there prices for the festival these are the same year round because it is so expensive to live in this area.

And by the way THERE WILL BE 2005 Festival see:http://www.sidmouthfestival.org.uk/

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 24 Jul 04 - 12:23 PM

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 23 Jul 04 - 01:30 PM

Just like too say to all the Mudcatters who will be at Sidders,enjoy yourself and let us all know how it all went.Due to my physical health i am unable to attend,but my thoughts are with you all and my memories of going to Sidders for 23 years will always be with me.
Safe journey and dont drink to much of the scrumpy.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 23 Jul 04 - 05:37 AM

Venues tend to come and go in the official festival, for various reasons, but as regular Sidmouth goers know, all sorts of sessions pop up at the fringes. And sometimes become official in later years, or vice versa.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 10:51 PM

I was only at Sidmouth a couple of days last year and found a 'lets play tunes session' upstairs at the Rugby Club simply because I went to get a shower and someone was telling a friend about it - so much seems to be advertised by a board outside or found out just by happening to meet someone in the know - or half way doubtful.

Most of the time I get asked along by someone I have just met on the promenade, or told about another event at the end of another, or overhear the organiser of one event arranging to be at another - mobile phones are so useful that way.

Anne

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 04:55 PM

What happened to the Rugby Club involvement in the Festival? It didn't seem to figure last year other than using the pitch as car park, and I don't see it on the list of venues for this year either.
TB

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 04:54 PM

See you Kevin!

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 04:33 PM

If I'd lost a lot of money in the down pour and needed to make sure that as many people came as possible to make up the short fall, I'd announce that this was the last festival, wouldn't you?

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 12:57 PM

Hi LB

I'm introducing your 18.15 Saturday event and looking forward to it. I remember enjoying the last time you were there with the JGs in the Rugby Club.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 06:10 AM

Looking forward to Sidmouth and hope there'll be a 51st.

Bob Conroy and Dan Milner will there 2 days.

Our schedule looks like this:

Saturday, 31 July
1430 - Ham Marquee - Concert with Doghouse Skiffle and Johnson Girls
1815 - Arts Centre - Concert "Port of New York" with Johnson Girls

Sunday, 1 August
1000 - Arts Centre - Talk "Irish Maritime Songs from 19th Century New York"
1715 - St Teresas - Guitar & Banjo Alternate Tunings w/ Martin Carthy
2030 - Volunteer Inn - "Evening of Song" w/ Bob Davenport, Roisin White, Rosie Stewart, Dan Quinn, Will Duke and Mary McNamara

We look forward to seeing any and all old Mudcat friends.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 05:48 AM

Linda and I have managed to find room on a site at Harpford - just along towards Newton Poppleford from the Bowd. We shoud therefore be arriving Monday afternoon.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: *Laura*
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 04:08 PM

"It's in the wrong place. It's a pain in the neck for most people to get to"

It's not a pain in the neck for ME to get to! ANd lots of other people too. it's not in the wrong place - you are! Move to Devon if you're that concerned - cos Sidmouth ain't moving!

But I have to agree about the campsite - bollocks.

Laura xx

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 08:49 AM

Thanks for that info Dave,it was interesting to read especially as i know Ken Stevens so well.I must give him a bell.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 08:05 AM

These links may help with camping near Sidmouth

garden camping near sidmouth

sidmouth accommodation

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 06:25 AM

We won't have tickets either - we only fairly recently decided that we could make it (Linda's son will be at scout camp). You shouldn't need a ticket for most of the sessions - just find somewhere to stay or camp. We'll probably be on a site in the direction of Seaton or Honiton and drive in each day. If you're interested, we'll let you know what we find.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From:
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 06:03 AM

dear dave,i wont be able to judge at doom gloom & despondency as i cant get a ticket for the festival !!! see you at bromyard hopefully       martin

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 04:30 AM

Tony (I am the Music Man) Day didn't start the MBS, it was going several years before he got involved with it - he agrees. He has done a wonderful job of keeping it going and helping to build it into the institution it has become.

The year we started it, every pub in Sidmouth was being taken over by musician's sessions. That year, both Fred Jordan and Mervin Vincent were at Sidmouth, and we (myself, Charley Yarwood, and I think Ken Stevens) wanted somewhere that we could run a singaround with them. We managed to find the middle bar - there was something happening in the front bar and of course a dance out in the garden. It caught on, and by the time Tony took over the organisation, was already well established.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 09:07 PM

Dave,
MBS is 25 years old this year.Tony Day has Sweatshirts and a book written about the history of the MB.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 11:58 AM

Linda & I should be around for some of the time. I hope to make it to the middle bar session - I was involved in starting it about 27 years ago !

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 08:12 PM

Why do you think I do second -hand folk books?


Dave

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 05:13 PM

I think Bob H sums it up well. I knew an out-of-town girl who ran a hat stall, she gave it up because of the high fees charged for a few square metres of space. One of the biggest losses in my view was the large bookstall that ceased a few years ago - I met a few interesting people there. OK, I admit it, a few interesting women.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Bob H
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 02:20 PM

Some local traders have gone to the arena in the past. Puddleducks, the toy shop, did for a while then stopped for some reson. The concession fees may be a problem for them - and I suspect that having to split the business, take on extra staff and so on at a time when they are super-busy anyway means there is little if any benefit.

Bob

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 04:05 AM

Do the town traders ever think of applying for concessions at the Festival? Of course there are some stalls they couldn't provide (Mexican hammocks, accordions etc).

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 05:38 PM

I've lived in Sidmouth for over seven years. I've been a councillor and I know probably more than many people what goes on hereabouts.

For the record, the town meeting was attended by about 80 people over 60 of whom were from Sidmouth or the immediate locality. Fifteen left their names with the Town Clerk as being interested in assisting the festival if they could - and some of these were from outside Sidmouth. A survey undertaken in the local Sidmouth Herald in the weeks before the meeting produced a 2:1 vote in favour of retaining a festival - in round figures 200 votes for and 100 against, out of a population of around 13,000. The circulation of the Herald is over 7000 copies per week - in two weeks 14,000 forms would have been available to be returned.

The 'return rate' of only 300 out of 14,000 is about par for the course in marketing terms (most 'junk mail' never even gets read let alone acted upon).

I hope that helps. My own view is that if the festival is 'saved' it will primarily be people from outside of Sidmouth who will take the lead. I would guess a handful from Sidmouth would be prepared to really give some time and effort.

As for the AFO report, I have far more to say about the conclusions drawn from the sample than about the methods of sampling which as you say may be broadly OK. See www.seered.co.uk/folk22.htm and the preceding page (/folk21.htm).

The argument in Sidmouth has raged for years - how much do locals who pay council tax actually get back from the festival? My method of analysis would suggest perhaps very little - it is a challenge to others and so far there has been no comment of any significance. Maybe EDDC and others have gone to ground?

I agree on the food and drink angle. The shops in town can hardly cope with the demands now, they would be swamped if they became the sole providers of sustenance but this has not prevented yearly carps about stalls "taking trade away from town shops" .

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 04:57 AM

"the food and drink stalls in the Arena because they want all the trade in their shops..."

Whenever I need food during festival (and I confess there is more demand on my part for drink) the shops invariably have long queues.

And because of the desire to see events my demands are often made at non-traditional moments so it isn't just going when everyone else does.

If the food and drink sales came from the arena and into Sidmouth how on earth would they serve us all? Perhaps we would then give up and go for a pint and then have another pint and then we are drinking on an empty stomach and might be sick all over the newly tarmaced land and get blamed for being drunks whereas it is really all due to the Town Council....and shopkeepers.....

Best regards,

Dave

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 07:43 PM

I can assure you that the wish on the part of the Town Council to be 'thoroughly involved' with any future festival could be more of a threat than a promise - "we want far more say in what goes on in OUR TOWN" - unquote.

In the past there has been much feeling that "Steve Heap Inc" have 'taken over' Sidmouth (about time someone did!?!) and some people (no names) want more CONTROL for themselves. Now if I told you that the Town Council has a strong body of shopkeepers (who didn't want the proposed farmers' market because it would be competition) and who for years have objected to the food and drink stalls in the Arena because they want all the trade in their shops, you might get the general drift.

But don't say I told you, please. I have to live here remember? The hot news at the moment is that a small area of land with WEEDS is to be tarmacadamed so that nothing whatever can grow on it. It's all part of Sidmouth's drive towards environmental purity, and weeds are DISGUSTING. Ask any butterfly.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 06:56 PM

My mother-in-law has just sent on a "Sidmouth Herald" (9.07.04.) from which it appears that the town Council want to be "thoroughly involved" in any discussion re the festival's future.
"Apres le deluge, mes amis?" ...easy to be wise after the event!
It made approx 20% of page coverage on page 5 of the paper, while page 1 is given over almost entirely to"No thanks to farmers' market".
Priorities,eh?

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 06:39 PM

Steve....

Your link from folk18 is a bit disparaging about the MHM report.
The size and track record of MHM we can argue about but.....

These reports are based on an independent research study undertaken by Morris Hargreaves McIntyre. 4,294 adult festival goers completed short questionnaires at a range of six different folk festivals in England during July, August and September 2002. A further representative, weighted sample of 450 of these adults then completed long questionnaires during October 2002. A sample of these respondents then attended focus group discussions in December 2002. Market size data was calculated from attendance records gathered by the Association of Festival Organisers.........

looks like carefully constructed sampling and data collection to me.

Dave Eyre
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 06:33 PM

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 06:19 PM

Steve in Sidmouth.

Can you please email me with the terms for your caravan: [e-mail]

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 06:14 PM

I ought to have made it plain that the first two lines of that last post were a quotation form Steve's previous post!!

Dave

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 06:10 PM

Most folkies want the festival to continue but the number of locals who are keen to the point of actually wanting to help is very low, the number of anti-festival locals is quite sizeable and the overall fraction of apathetic locals is about 93%.

Below the belt Steve!!:-)>

Carefully conducted survey? Number of people questioned? Total responses? Any close focus groups? Social class of correspondents? Date of survey? All these are quoted in the AFO report.

I am sure you would not wish to bandy figures about without factual support!! :-)>

Dave Eyre
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 05:41 PM

If there is any news locally I will post it, but chances are I may be the last to know (after all, I only live here!). Latest news as I know it will be on www.seered.co.uk/folk24.htm
together with local weather (don't believe the regional forecasts, we can have ten lots of weather in Devon and Cornwall at the same time). The funding problem is mentioned on /folk18.htm of the same website - basically it is a matter of the festival itself being run as a business that precludes Arts Council funding - so I have been told.

Most folkies want the festival to continue but the number of locals who are keen to the point of actually wanting to help is very low, the number of anti-festival locals is quite sizeable and the overall fraction of apathetic locals is about 93%. The topic has dropped out of the local paper completely - we are back to shock horror stories of a few weeds spoiling the town for Britain in Bloom - www.seered.co.uk/bloomers.htm


P.S. Anyone interested in hiring an old caravan for the week? I could tow it to the site and pitch it for you, all you have to do is live in it. Fee by negotiation but you would have to agree with Festival that you would be, in effect, bringing a caravan which at this late stage may not be possible as spaces on site have to be reserved at time of ordering ticket, so I believe. One double bed (quite comfy) but no equipment of any type.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Bob H
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 07:08 PM

Sponsorship of the local traders has been actively ought for many years to no avail. Well, if they won't feed the goose that lays the golden egg....

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 04:58 PM

Well it's St Swithin's day and it hasn't rained yet here today (Edinburgh 9.45.p.m.) so let's hope it hasn't in Sidmouth, and that'll be a good omen for the future.
I am married to a Sidmouthian who is not really that bothered about the Festival, but doesn't mind if I go. I would be very upset if there were no more festival. I still feel a week's season ticket is amazing value for money (=approx 3 or 4 premier football matches, 6-8 hours worth as opposed to the whole week!)and wish more festivals would adopt the practice of having an all-events pass. I also attend alot of "fringe"/free events. Having just been to a festival elsewhere where the local traders did put in a lot of sponsorship, I think this should be actively sought out from those who currently benefit from their increased trade during the festival week (some of whom do contribute, but not enough of them)
TB

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 03:01 PM

Sidmouth already has a full programme of workshops that are far more diverse than anything the above-mentioned institutions can provide.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Kate
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 02:03 PM

I've followed this thread for a while and have been interested in what people have to say about the festival. I feel moved to add my own thoughts as the festival's been so influential to my life. Although I've been going since I was five (I'm now in my mid 20s) I have usually stuck to the fringe events. More recently I've stewarded, but this is the first year that I've treated myself to a full season ticket. I love seeing the performers along the seafront and going to the Anchor, the Volunteer and the other free fringe events. I've grown up with the Middle Bar Singers and have many good friends at the festival. But over the last few years of buying the odd day ticket and stewarding I've been able to go to the bigger events including the Late Night Extra and staying on the main camp site. What I really appreciate about the festival is that even now there are things there that I enjoy. As a child the festival was magical, even when we didn't have that much money to go to the paying events. I expect if I'm lucky and the festival is still going when I'm elderly I'll find things there for me then as well. I'd be gutted if the festival stopped. I know there are problems that go hand in hand with its size but that also provides the amazingly wide selection of things to do. Where else is there such a thriving fringe festival along side such a diverse festival. Maybe its not to everyones tastes but there are plenty of other small quality festivals and this in its own right is a great event. I also know that it is extremely expensive and I feel very fortunate that I can afford a ticket this year. It deffinately hurt handing over my credit card number but if you consider it's for a whole week and compare it to other events of it size its pretty comparable. Again there is also plenty to enjoy free on the fringes. I expect the management will have to find a very different way of working- Steve in Sidmouth described how the Royal Opera House, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Ballet School all play an added educational role (maybe that's an idea for Sidmouth?) I really hope that they'll be able to save it.

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Bob H
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 01:12 PM

Steve (from Sidmouth) states that Sidmouth can't get funding because its run as business. How is "run as a business" defined?

Sidmouth is a structured as a company limited by guarantee (not by shares) and is therefore non-profit making. The running of the festival is contracted out to Mrs Casey Music. This arrangement is very common in the arts so I don't see how it can exclude funding. If there was good financial reasons to change it I'm sure Steve would do! Am I missing something?

Then there is The Freinds of Sidmouth Festival who are are registered charity...

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 10:34 AM

There's a rumour going around that Sidmouth already has some funding for next year, is this correct?

Sal

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 06:02 PM

I can't justify buying a week ticket because I do not attend things in Sidmouth which require tickets, and I might only be there for a day or two.

I sing in the various venues, play on the promenade, avoid the louder events because I can't stand the noise. I did go to arena events for many years but I found I needed to take ear defenders in order to take it down below my pain threashold, so I stopped going.

I have not been able to go for a whole week for the last 25 years, so I go where I do not need a ticket and find that I can fill my time quite easily.

I do take money with me to spend, but almost always come home with most of it. Since people have been burning their own cds I have managed to spend a bit more, and got some good music. I think the problem is that the things for sale are not what I want to buy - I always go and look around the stands and stalls in the area around the arena, but it is very rare that I see anything I want. I have asked for things like a particular type of capo or a replacement drum skin, but not found them.

Perhaps if there was something I could spend my money on and have it go towards the running of the festival it would not be in such difficulties - there might be many more people like me who carry money around ready to hand it over and find no reason to do so. The rest of my family are not interested in folk music, and I have to insist that I go, and justify what I spend.
Anne

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth (www.seered.co.uk)
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 06:08 AM

Dave: Good question - thanks for the prompt - I'll put some more explanation on my website. Five minutes work on google and in the chariy commission website brought up all three of the organisations you mentioned and the OBJECTS of the main or subsidiary charities are as follows - lifted from the CC website. People in the folk world are already looking into a similar arrangement for Sidmouth - but without the Royal, maybe?? The present arrangement (as a professionally run business)prevents Arts Council funding : see my page folk18.htm (so far as I recall it is 18) for a brief discussion.

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE.::TO PROMOTE AND ASSIST IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION SO FAR AS SUCH PROMOTION AND ASSISTANCE SHALL BE OF A CHARITABLE NATURE AND IN PARTICULAR, TO RAISE THE ARTISTIC TASTE OF THE COUNTRY, AND TO PROCURE AND INCREASE THE APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE MUSICAL ART IN ALL ITS FORMS. (SEE MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE.:: TO KEEP ALIVE THE MEMORY OF SHAKESPEARE BY THE PRESENTATION OF HIS PLAYS. (SEE ALSO ARTICLE II OF THE CHARTER OF INCORPORATION).

ROYAL BALLET (SCHOOL).:: THE PRIMARY OBJECT IS TO CONDUCT AND MAINTAIN THE SCHOOL IN ALL RESPECTS AS A CHARITY, AND TO APPLY THE PROPERTY AND INCOME OF THE SCHOOL FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES ONLY. FURTHER OBJECTS ARE (I) TO CONDUCT A SCHOOL FOR THE EDUCATION OF BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE BALLET, AND FOR PROVIDING SCHOLASTIC EDUCATION FOR SUCH OF THE SAID BOYS AND GIRLS AS ARE BY LAW REQUIRED TO RECEIVE SUCH EDUCATION; (II) TO RECEIVE, EDUCATE AND TRAIN STUDENTS IN BALLET, DRAMA, DANCING, SINGING, MUSIC AND OTHER ARTS. (FOR FULL DETAILS SEE CLAUSE 4 OF MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION)

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 04:23 AM

First paragraph should read "I am sure".....

Dave

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 04:08 AM

Hi Steve,

I would imagine that any model that would avoid the present conflict with people whether they be local Sidmouth residents or those who feel they could organise the festival better/smaller/larger/differently is that I am it has been well explored by the current organisers. In particular I would imagine that most avenues of funding have been explored fully.

I am not sure how the organisation and structure of the festival - and I am glad to have it explained to me - precludes Arts Council or any other grants, though it certainly seems to do so. Organisations such as the Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal Ballet seem to attact grants and seem to be run as businesses, albeit nothing like as succesfully as Sidmouth International Festival.

Perhaps it should become the Royal Sidmouth Festival?

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: 50th and last Sidmouth festival?
From: GUEST,steve in sidmouth
Date: 11 Jul 04 - 06:38 PM

Thank you Dave, for thoughtful comments. I sent you an email about three minutes ago suggesting you look at my site....you beat me to it. I am highly supportive of the festival as an event in Sidmouth - it is one reason why I moved here (so did several people I know).

I'll reply later on the economics - this is a hurried reply just for now. My principal gripe is with people accepting whatever figures are thrown into the air and basing policy on them. I have worked with economists so know a little about the subject - the AFO report is just so insubstantial, as are figures used by EDDC.

The festival should not in my view have to 'make a profit' and Sidmouth should be very glad it has such an event in town (profit from it or not in narrow financial terms).What is wrong is the model, whereby it is presently excluded from (say) Arts Council funding because it is run as a business.

I put the webpages together so people could get a much better idea of how things were viewed down here, instead of just reading the national press. The argument about traders not making a lot out of the festival has been going on for years - some do, some don't but you need firm figures and some logic on which to base arguments and these have been sadly lacking from Council debate.

My preferred model would be for EDDC just to 'give' the use of land etc much as now and keep out of the organising as much as possible. Arts Council and/or a commercial sponsor would be needed unless perhaps some money could be saved by altering the structure to reduce costs without affecting the income too much.

More later.