What is the Frome Festival?

Founded in 2001, the community festival comprises ten days of music (modern, folk and classical), literature, drama, comedy, films, photography, exhibitions, green issues, fashion, local history, science & technology and multi-media presentations.
With close to 200 events in up to 40 different venues and attendances of more than 30,000 the Frome Festival is an integral part of the town’s cultural life. It is also a significant factor in the economy of the local area. It has fast become one of the most significant and diverse community festivals in the UK, attracting attention from all over the world.

The Frome Festival operates in a similar way to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, in that the ideas and promotions come to us from various sources. For example, the Merlin Theatre, Rook Lane Arts and Words@Frome Festival organise much their own programme of performances and exhibitions within the festival’s remit. In addition to the above, the Frome Festival actively promotes many of the main events each year, financially underwriting large scale concerts and performances. The risk factor is very high. A single concert could demand a financial underwrite equivalent to most of the public subsidy received for the year.

Most festivals expect to have to direct significant funding to their classical music programme. Thanks to the carefully weighed options presented to us by our Classical Music co-ordinator Jason Thornton, we are able to present a diverse and well attended series of concerts.

Festival 2009 lived up to expectations. We were delighted with the quality of the performances, exhibitions, walks, talks, workshops, and more, that made up the 187 programmed events. It was captured in all its glory by members of the Frome Wessex Camera Club. Some of the marvellous photos can be accessed by clicking on the “2009 Pics” tab on the top menu bar. This year the Frome Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary from the 9th to the 18th July, allowing a discreet period of mourning after England’s inevitable elimination from the World Cup, before we begin the celebrations!