King’s Lynn Festival closes on a high note

King's Lynn Festival came to an end last night with organisers celebrating that the fortnight of quality events attracted the festival's biggest audience in its 66-year-history.

There were more than 7,000 ticket buyers plus more than 1,000 visitors to the exhibition of works by artist Alfred Cohen, organised in partnership with the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, and sculpture by Susan Bacon.

The highest budget ever was invested into this year's programme.

Festival Chairman Alison Croose said: 'When we get the final figures we should have covered all our costs and we hope to break even.'

She added that the festival had placed west Norfolk on the map, attracting visitors close to home and further afield to the area with its wide-ranging programme of orchestral concerts, jazz, folk, choral, classical recitals, talks, films and exhibitions.

The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra opened the festival. There were also performances from soprano Lesley Garrett and the jazz quintet from Ronnie Scott's Club.

Before the festival closed with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra at the King's Lynn Corn Exchange, Andrew Murray, a councillor on Hunstanton Town Council said he had particularly enjoyed clarinettist Emma Johnson's performance with the Piatti Quartet.

'There is so much variety available on the King's Lynn Festival programme and that's what makes it so special,' he said.

• Is your town hosting an arts festival? Email details to newsdesk@archant.co.uk