A major festival is looking for bright sparks to help it prosper in 2014.

The Brighton Digital Festival will submit fresh ideas and a blueprint for this year’s festival to Arts Council England at the end of this month.

Organisers say they need £300,000 over two years, which they hope to get from the quango, as well as sponsors.

But Tom Bailey, who directed the festival in 2012, has stepped down to pursue other interests.

The festival consortium will hold a meeting at the Emporium Cafe in London Road, Brighton, on January 28 to recruit volunteers for this year’s event.

A spokeswoman for the festival said that if and when funding is agreed, the consortium will advertise for a new director and go through the recruitment process.

She said that the festival is looking for help with the organisation, reception, logistics, lighting, sound and display.

The spokeswoman said: “The meeting will update everyone on the status and plans for this year and is open to anyone interested in plans for the festival and those wanting to get involved, volunteer or create an event.”

Last year, organisers said 174 events were staged, which attracted 40,931 people – up 63% on 2012.

Katja Garrood, design director at Brandwatch in Queens Road, Brighton, said: “A good deal of our success has been down to the exceptionally high quality of the Brighton digital scene.

“We really want to share this success, and being part of the Brighton Digital Festival gives us the opportunity to do this.”

Phil Jones, consortium member and managing director at Wired Sussex, said: “We recognise that we live in challenging times in terms of winning funding to deliver such events, but we are hopeful that Arts Council England and other funding bodies will recognise this festival’s value and continue to support it as they have done so enthusiastically in the past.”