I HAVE now received a ticking off by Ms Ros Rowberry and Ms Avril Spickernell (Postbag, August 4) and a magisterial rebuke from Miss Catherine Moody (Postbag, August 11) for daring to suggest the Malvern Visual Arts Festival needs to be more ambitious in its aims if it is to contribute to the prosperity of this town.

I remain unrepentant and consider that their response demonstrates exactly the problem that I attempted to highlight in my earlier letter.

Essentially summer arts festivals in towns such as Hay-on-Wye, Cheltenham, Ledbury etc. succeed by bringing in top class professionals who combine with the existing attractions of the town in question to create an exciting and dynamic mix which is not on offer in an everyday sense. That is the definition of a festival, and to suggest, as Miss Moody does, that Malvern could always supply this level of artistic activity is to miss the point.

We do have plenty of opportunities here in Malvern to see the work of local artists (The Gallery on Worcester Road being one prominent outlet).

What we do not have is the chance to see new, contemporary and challenging work from elsewhere.

Without this access to the wider world Malvern's artistic activities easily lapse into complacency and I would have hoped that Malvern Art Club would be keen to see the best work available on show in Malvern.

I suggest that a festival organiser should be funded by MHDC precisely because we clearly need a dose of objectivity in Malvern. Voluntary effort and participation are vital, but the festival will not grow without proper funding, serious sponsorship and professional organisation. It will remain a community event, supported by local artists and undemanding tourists. Perhaps this is what the majority prefers, but I feel it would be another lost opportunity in the battle to regenerate the town.

Bridget MacDonald, St Ann's Road, Malvern.