Cheltenham's Performing Arts Festival under threat after funding bombshell
ONE of Cheltenham's much-loved festivals is under threat after a bombshell announcement to pull vital funding.
Borough council bosses say from 2012 they will no longer cover the £24,000 costs to rent the Town Hall for the annual Festival of Performing Arts.
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Sammi Nolan, 11, and Frank Rimmer, 11, from Gastrells School, Stroud
Festival chairman Chris Lammiman says the news is "devastating" and has launched a campaign to persuade the authority to reverse its controversial decision.
Thousands of youngsters take part in the showcase event every year – believed to be the biggest of its kind in the South West. The town's 84th Performing Arts Festival is currently under way.
Mr Lammiman said: "The council pays for the use of the Town Hall which is a perfect venue for the festival. The fees we charge for entry to the competition cover the cost of professional adjudicators only and the rest is done through volunteers.
"We're lucky if we have a surplus of £1,000 at the end of the year and certainly couldn't afford to pay thousands for the use of the Town Hall."
A petition has been drawn up to lobby councillors to reverse the decision and continue to support the 12-day festival.
He added: "We have no sponsors and the only income comes from competitors' fees which range from £3 to £12. Some might say we should raise the fees to meet the cost but we'd have to triple them to do that and it could be suicidal to the festival. Particularly when you take into account other hidden costs – such as travel and paying for an accompanist.
"I'm absolutely devastated by this. We're preparing contingency plans but it would mean the festival would change. It certainly wouldn't stretch over 12 days and we'd have to look for alternative sites such as school halls. It would be a tremendous loss to Cheltenham. It's a major cultural and community event where the stars are the performers – not celebrities."
The petition is available to sign until the end of May at the Town Hall.
Janet Marshall, who runs a dance studio under the same name in the town, regularly has students entering the event.
She said: "It would be a phenomenal loss. I've been connected to the festival for many years as a competitor and a teacher. To think it might be taken away is very sad. Cheltenham is a town of culture and this festival is part of that.
"It's a great showcase for youngsters and they get an enormous amount out of it. It may be an amateur competition but everyone has to start somewhere."
Councillor Steve Jordan, leader of the council, confirmed the borough's arrangement allowed the use of the Town Hall for the event at a cost of £24,000. He said: "We support the Festival of Performing Arts and have a three-year funding arrangement with them which comes to an end in 2012. We're committed to putting a new arrangement in place. However, given the financial pressures being placed on every local authority, we need to ensure that this festival is sustainable."
OPINION, P8
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by MISS P S MOLONEY, Cheltenham
Wednesday, May 12 2010, 1:04PM
“This is very sad news and the case for continuing with this event's funding is not helped by calling it "Elitist". The event caters for ALL of our community including those who, like myself, have struggled for years to meet tuition fees for their children. It is proudly a festival of excellence in a world where mediocrity and fame for fame's sake is so often seen as a goal by our children and youth. The Festival places heavy demands on our young people, demands that they rise to and exceed. They can feel rightly proud of their achievements, can our Borough council feel proud to be letting them down, and next time they bellyache about our "Feckless Youth" can we then remind them of what they did for them?”
by Quedgeley Guy, Quedgeley
Tuesday, May 11 2010, 10:27PM
“John Doherty,
Some things are above personal squabbles and this instance together with the issue,raised by Sandra,about the difficulties the handicapped have deserve our sympathy and assistance in easing the obstacles they face.
Our NuTory Government could do the same. We shall see in due course but I don't think (despite Cameron's interminable catch phrase) that much will change.”
by Sali Gray, Gloucester
Tuesday, May 11 2010, 6:26PM
“Sorry if I've missed this in the article, but who owns the Town Hall? Who is the £24,000 going to? Is there any way that this venue hire charge could be reduced at all? Perhaps halved over the next 2 years, so that the money budgeted would cover the hire until 2014? Surely it's better for the Town Hall to be booked and used (for a reduced fee) than to be under utilised? Or is there a waiting list of organisations wanting to book the venue, with £24,000 in their bank accounts?”
by Norfolker, Glos
Tuesday, May 11 2010, 6:21PM
“It is a shame, but the Performing Arts festival does cater for a narrow (sometimes elite) section of society. Perhaps the money could be shared around. Having said that, I don't want to see it go.”
by John Doherty, Gloucester
Tuesday, May 11 2010, 6:02PM
“Quedgeley Guy who would ever have thought you would have my backing but in this instance I wholeheartedly support your observation. These youngsters need encouraging and as I can finally see Gloucester taking over the baton for culture foundation in the county it would be nice to see this happen in our city. My only proviso being that we need all the parents and our schools to be fully committed to the project.”