prize5-5, Exercise 3: A festival for everything

Model answer (one possible pair):

For: many festivals spread cultural activity across the year, give specialist audiences a focus, create work for performers and venues outside the summer peak, and give the city a reputation as a place where something is always on. A science or book festival can also reach people who would not go to an arts festival.

Against: too many festivals compete for the same sponsors, public funding and audiences, they add to pressure on housing and services in busy periods, and the city may come to be run for visitors more than for residents. A festival for every theme can also dilute the meaning of the word.

Fair view: the effect depends on how each festival is funded and run, and on evidence about audiences and costs, so the question is best answered festival by festival (Chapters 7 and 8).