Festival Director Steps Down

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After seven very successful years as Director of the Frome Festival, Martin Bax MBE has regretfully decided to stand down.

Over the last seven years Mr Bax has built the Festival into a nationally renowned event. Not only have local people looked forward to the beginning of July with great anticipation and enjoyment, but over time many people in the rest of the UK have taken note and been seduced into visiting Frome and its Festival, and even moving to the town. This year the Festival appeared in the Times poll of top UK Festivals - in the top 5 of 4 Festival categories and the No 1 Somerset Festival! Regionally, Venue magazine in their "10 great festivals that aren't Glastonbury" voted Frome as number 1.

International artists and performers have appeared in the Festival from the beginning, many reducing their fee to be associated with the growing phenomenon that is Frome Festival. But it has also been a showcase for local artists and increasingly for the talents of Frome's younger generation. All this has been due to the energy and vision of Martin Bax; without him it just wouldn't have happened.

In 2006, The Frome Festival Board commissioned an Organisational Development Plan funded by Arts Council England. This found that the Festival could not be sustained if it continued to be staffed by volunteers, including Martin. The subsequent business plan called on the local authorities and the Arts Council to make available investment to ensure the Frome Festival could become a professional organisation run by paid members of staff, with Mr Bax as the Artistic Director and a new post of General Manager.

The Festival, it is agreed, has had a major impact on the regeneration of Frome over the last seven years, including significant investment into the town and engendering a confidence and real sense of identity amongst its people. This was recognised by Frome Town Council, which invested in the Festival the amount requested. It was unfortunate that Mendip District Council and Somerset County Council could not give financial support on anything like the Town Council's level of commitment. This meant that Arts Council England could not consider making an investment, as local funding has to be the cornerstone of local sustainability.

It is with great regret that Martin Bax had to decide he could no longer carry out all the work involved in mounting a major Arts and Community Festival, year after year and without recognition from the representatives of the Frome and Somerset communities.

"I am very proud of the achievements of the Frome Festival and have enormous respect and gratitude for all the people who have worked in a voluntary capacity over the years, to make the Festival such a success. Their commitment, of time, energy and ideas, inspired me from one year to the next. I am also deeply grateful to all the local businesses and individuals who have sponsored the Festival over the years. It really could not have continued without their generous support.

"I hope the Festival will be able to continue and I will be following its future with great interest. However, if it is to go on into the future, recognition must be given to the benefits it brings to Frome in particular, and Somerset in general. A way must be found to ensure that the Festival continues to play its part in the further development of Frome and its people."