THE 3 Harbours Arts Festival will not be held in 2020 following a drop in committee members.

The festival has run for 16 years without a break, bringing art, music, family and heritage events to the communities of Prestonpans and Cockenzie and Port Seton.

In recent years, the committee which organises the festival has been running with four members but it is now down to just one.

There are hopes of forming a new board of committee members and directors and reviving the festival for 2021 with a new wave of volunteers.

A public statement was released saying: “The current committee has contemplated a viable way forward for the festival.

“Having considered various opinions about how the festival has evolved, it is clear that in order to remain authentic, relevant and maintain momentum, a community arts festival must come from the community in terms of appetite, involvement, engagement, open houses, its committee members and directors.

“The committee has concluded that the festival will take a year-long break in 2020 with the intention of resuming in 2021.

“During this time we hope that the community can consider what form they would like their arts festival to take and we welcome anyone who would like to get involved.

“Provided local people come forward, we hope to form a new board of committee members and directors in November 2020.”

Ward councillor Fiona O’Donnell was saddened by the news.

She told the Courier: “The 3 Harbours Festival is a major event in the life of our community and it is so sad to think it might not go ahead next year.

“Not only does it showcase the work of local artists, it is also a great boost to our local economy.

“I hope that new committee members will come forward to make sure the 2021 festival goes ahead.

“We live in such a vibrant community that I will be truly surprised if that doesn’t happen.”

Anyone who wishes to get involved in the 3 Harbours Arts Festival can express their interest on the festival’s website via the ‘contact us’ page.