Something remarkable happened in Petworth in July 2009. Against all expectations and running in the face of the pundits and soothsayers, the Festival achieved its highest audience figures ever, with huge public support and appreciation for the programme of events that ran during the last fortnight in July. As the new, incoming Artistic Director, I have to say that this is a tremendous state of affairs to inherit. What more could you want than to take the conch of a festival that is clearly valued and cherished by its audience!

So what will the 2010 Petworth Festival look like? As yet I am not at liberty to reveal the entire programme, that has to wait until our formal launch in April, but I can reveal that, whilst playing to the festival's great strengths, I am also hoping to bring new and vital strands to the annual bill of fare. The festival's great strengths? Clearly the Festival excels in its presentation of chamber music. Hopefully my own love of this form of music making will come across loud and clear, but equally I hope that the new jazz events, the comedy and the general variety of what will be on offer will continue to draw an ever more curious and eclectic audience to our select range of venues.

One more point to mention is that we are unashamedly holding our ticket prices at last year’s levels. We are determined to continue building our audiences, fully aware that we are still emerging from difficult times financially.

Stewart Collins
Artistic Director

About Petworth Festival

Petworth Festival is an arts festival in the historic market town of Petworth, West Sussex. Over the past thirty years, it has evolved into a two to three week summer festival of music and other arts. Our main venue, St Mary's Church, has seating for around 400 and has excellent acoustics and good sight lines. The Festival presents very high quality chamber concerts, instrumental recitals, song, jazz and world music, along with theatre, visual arts, talks and walks in and around Petworth.

Stewart Collins