News

Three weeks to save the Belfast Festival

18 January 2007

Three weeks to save the Belfast Festival Telegraph launches funding campaign As a reaction of the announcement to close down the Belfast Festival if funding is not secured before the end of January, the Telegraph has launched a funding campaign to save the historic Queen's University festival Queen's chiefs say they are no longer able to cover the cost of running the festival and have urged the Government to boost its financial contribution towards the event. The festival, which is traditionally held in the autumn, brings around £6.5m into the local economy and provides hundreds of jobs. However, public sector funding has been steadily declining over the last number of years and, despite record box office takings, last year's festival is projected to make a £150,000 loss. The university says it cannot afford to meet this shortfall and has given until January 31 - just under three weeks from today - for the Government to pledge greater financial support. If this is not forthcoming, Queen's bosses say they will be forced to cancel the festival permanently. "Queen's University cannot sustain an organisation which is structurally underfunded, and it cannot be expected to continually cover deficits which are the result of overall lack of investment by those who benefit," said Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, Professor Peter Gregson. The Telegraph's Save Belfast Festival campaign is encouraging readers to show their support by signing a special online petition to the Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister, Maria Eagle. And director of the Belfast Festival, Graeme Farrow, today urged people to get behind the campaign. "The festival is something that shows that we are a region that is culturally mature," he said. "I think it is a key institution and one that is worth saving. "The money that goes into the Belfast Festival from the public purse is repaid 10 times over into the local economy." The first festival was held in 1962 and it has since become an important cultural centrepiece for the city and the local tourist industry. Among the famous names who have performed at the event - Ireland's biggest international arts festival - are Sir Laurence Olivier, Jimi Hendrix, Rowan Atkinson, Billy Connolly and Kenneth Branagh. The festival also has a strong track record in community outreach activity in areas of social need. The festival has also lead the way in access for people with disabilities with sound, subtitles and access initiatives. Belfast Telegraph editor Martin Lindsay said: "The loss of the Belfast Festival would be a devastating blow to a city, indeed to a Northern Ireland, that is pulling itself up by its bootstraps after years of strife and political paralysis. "We hope everyone who has ever attended a festival event will back this campaign by sending in emails or filling in the coupon on page 10 of today's paper. "It is absolutely vital we save the festival." Campaign begins to save festival Organisers of Northern Ireland's biggest arts festival are urging members of the public to back a new Belfast Telegraph campaign to save it from closure. The Belfast Festival at Queen's is facing the axe after more than 40 years due to what the university claim is a lack of financial support. And university bosses say they will be forced to pull the plug unless Government funding can be secured by January 31 - less than three weeks from now. Today the Belfast Telegraph launches a special campaign, backed by Queen's University, which is dedicated to saving the historic festival from closure and ensuring its future survival. In November it was revealed that, despite earning its highest ever gross box-office last year, the festival is currently running at an estimated annual deficit of around £150,000. To date this shortfall has been met by Queen's University, which says it will no longer be able to meet the cost of the event. "The university cannot sustain an organisation which is structurally under-funded. We cannot be expected to continually cover deficits which are the result of overall lack of investment by those who benefit," said vice-chancellor of Queen's University, Professor Peter Gregson. According to figures from the university, funding from Government sources - including the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure, the Northern Ireland Events Company and the Arts Council - has declined from £378,000 in 2002 to £69,500 last year. University bosses are keen to point out that, during this time, they have invested more than £2.5 million in culture and arts activities. "Queen's commitment to culture and arts is tangible, and the university is willing to continue investing in the festival," said Prof Gregson. "We are proud of our association with the festival, but it is a cultural resource for the region. The university cannot continue to carry the burden without the help and active support of our funding partners who benefit directly and indirectly." The university has set up an online petition to gather support for the festival. This will allow members of the public to directly contact the Minster for Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland, Maria Eagle MP, with their views on why it must be saved. The festival brings around £6.5 million into the province's economy annually. Sign the petition here. SOURCE: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2144611.ece