Disappointed organisers of this year’s Burnham-On-Sea FolkFest have been dealt with a financial blow after they being turned by the Arts Council for a £5,000 grant.
The costs of running the popular autumn music festival in the centre of Burnham have reached a whopping £14,500 and organisers had hoped the grant funding would help them fund the event, which starts next month.
“We have been turned down by the Arts Council for a £5,000 grant which has come as a blow,” said organiser Graham Cook to Burnham-On-Sea.com at the latest Burnham Chamber of Trade meeting.
He confirmed that the costs of running the third FolkFest, which will take place between 29th and 31st August, have increased compared to previous years.
“It’s great to feel we have an event that gets bigger and better each year,” he said. “It’s a guaranteed way of bringing new visitors into the town and generating money for local businesses.”
“However, the overal cost of running the event has reached £14,500 this year. We get some income from entry fees at the opening performance on the Friday night, which is the only pay event at the FolkFest, but the rest of our income comes from donations and fundraising. We’ve received National Lottery funding in the past, but have been turned down for a £5,000 grant by the Arts Council this year.”
Next month’s event will include 100 hours of live music, with some groups coming from as far afield as Ireland and Scotland. Graham added: “We have spent over £5,000 on quality acts even though many groups peform for free or at a very low cost.”
“There are several ways people can help us. They can put up posters, donate to us by becoming a friend of the FolkFest, or by advertising in our programme.”
Pictured are several of the groups performing during last year’s Burnham-On-Sea FolkFest
