Bewdley Festival Governance

There are two interlinked groups that oversee the Festival’s interests.

The Festival Society Committee (Chaired by Anthea Collins) was amalgamated with the former Festival Week Committee to form one main committee in 2013. This committee is responsible for the general membership by providing benefits, social activities and the infrastructure to support the Festival and keep its spirit alive throughout the year.  The Society’s executive and committee look after the Members; undertake fund raising as necessary, together with other ‘through the year’ activities.  These include producing a Members Newsletter and the July launch of the Festival programme.  Any surplus funds are made available to the Festival Treasurer.

In addition this committee also organises the main Festival and can create ad hoc sub – committees for key activities. It has autonomy on artistic matters but is guided on budgetary issues by the Festival Treasurer.  It is specifically charged with appointing the Festival Director, currently Jenny Paddock, and other officers necessary to devise and manage the Festival week.  Its responsibilities include marketing, sponsorship, ticket sales, front of house, catering, health and safety etc.  It consults and reports back the general membership on the development of the programme through the Festival Society. 

Bewdley Festival Limited has the ultimate responsibility for the annual October Festival and its general administration lies with the board of directors of Bewdley Festival Limited, a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.

The company’s objects are “to advance the education of the public by way of the promotion of the arts and the provision of appropriate facilities, particularly in the neighbourhood of Bewdley”.  The company is governed by way of a Council of Management, currently chaired by Roger Key, of which the majority are nominees of the Festival Society and these normally include the Society Chairman and the Festival Director. The remaining members are one of the original subscribers, local business people appointed for their particular expertise, the Festival Treasurer and the Company Secretary. The Council meets periodically to consider the progress of the Festival, approve budgets and annual accounts, monitor the ongoing financial position and to safeguard the Festival’s original aims and objectives and overall artistic integrity.  All committees liaise and interact with other organisations and businesses in the Town.