Potential backer for Bognor's Rox festival

The Sir Richard Hotham Project development company has offered to back the free music and arts festival this summer.

Thomas Elliott, the company’s managing director, said he wanted to ensure the event, of which he had been a fan for many years, continued in spite of a funding shortfall.

“I feel it’s really important to support Rox. The Sir Richard Hotham Project is all about entertainment with the 1,100 seat new theatre proposals and working with the University of Chichester and Arun Arts.

“I would want us to support Rox if we can. We are willing to fill their entire shortfall if they want us to,” he said.

He is meeting Rox organisers today to discuss his offer of support.

As reported, Rox is facing a serious threat to its future because the £45,000 cost of staging a professional standard event will fail to be met by the dwindling grants available. The difference between the two figures is believed to be well into five figures.

Rox has usually been held in late July on Bognor seafront since 1990. Its most recent location has been the Royal Norfolk Hotel.

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