STONEHAVEN Folk Festival is running its most ambitious line up ever in 2008 for its 20th year, boasting both Eddi Reader and Barbara Dickson amongst its star guests.
But while some concerts have already sold out and tickets for the remainder are going fast, the Festival faces a significant cash shortfall as the Scottish Arts Council dropped the Performing Arts category from its funding priorities for 2008-2009 fi
nancial year.
Festival Chairman Andy Popplestone said: "The festival has benefited from National Lottery support via the Scottish Arts Council over many years and it is disappointing that this source of funding has dried up this year. It has been particularly difficult as it wasn't apparent there was to be a change in priority until guidance appeared on the Scottish Arts Council web site in March, long after this year's Festival line-up had been booked".
Previous support from the SAC has enabled the organisers both to keep tickets prices low and offer concession ticketing. This has helped ensure that folk music - "the music of the people" - has remained accessible to everyone over the weekend without costing a fortune. The festival is organised and operated by unpaid volunteers and, due to the limited capacity of the venues, the weekend always runs in deficit with the shortfall usually being made up by Lottery funding via a Scottish Arts Council grant, a few commercial sponsors, the Kincardine and Deeside Arts Forum and the organisers own fund raising throughout the year.
The financial basis of the festival is certain to be damaged by the loss of Lottery funding and this could mean future programming may have to be less bold unless the shortfall can be made up. The festival brings hundreds of visitors, both from UK and many overseas countries, to Stonehaven over the weekend, filling the B&B's and bringing up to a hundred caravans, campervans and tents to the festival site in Mineralwell Park. Fringe sessions make sure the pubs are packed all weekend.
The organisers are looking for additional sponsorship and donations and will be very grateful for offers of help to secure the future of this internationally acclaimed festival.
All offers should be directed to Trudi Clayton, tel 07876 543945/01569 767666
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