Arundel Festival shock as castle takes over concerts

The Arundel Festival Society is insisting that the Festival still has a bright future '“ despite a shock move which sees Arundel Castle take control of the Festival concerts at the venue.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Nov 2005, 10:03 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:35 BST

Arundel Castle trustees are donating 50,000 to the Festival Society, prompting claims that the Festival has been bought off. But Arundel Festival Society chairman James Walsh insisted it was all part of a positive will to move forward together.

He said he was confident the Festival would continue to develop, simply under a different structure.

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Dr Walsh confirmed that the Arundel castle concerts, previously the heart of the Arundel Festival, were being taken in-house by the castle.

He also confirmed that the Arundel Castle donation would clear the Festival's accumulated deficit, leaving it free to start from scratch next year with a range of events outside the castle.

Dr Walsh further confirmed that he had received the resignation of Arundel Festival director Mary Hamilton: "Mary has chosen to take her energies and her excellent professional expertise elsewhere. She has chosen to do that in view of the changes.

"But Mary continues to enjoy the full confidence of the Arundel Festival board as a really excellent Festival director. I am confident that we will find ways of continuing to work with Mary but probably on a freelance basis."

Full story in West Sussex Gazette, November 24

Related topics:Arundel CastleJames WalshWest Sussex Gazette