Gloucester City Council is set to cut its festivals and events budget by more than half, placing funding for key cultural events like the renowned Three Choirs Festival in jeopardy. This reduction comes as the council seeks an emergency government loan of around £15 million to address its financial challenges.
The council’s gross budget for festivals and events stood at £348,547 for the current financial year but is set to drop to £178,500 in the upcoming year. Despite a successful cultural year for the city, financial pressures have forced council leaders to tighten spending.
Caroline Courtney, the culture and leisure cabinet member, explained that the budget cuts are necessary due to the council’s poor financial position. She also confirmed that projects linked to Together Gloucester would remain funded due to existing agreements. However, the council cannot guarantee financial support for the Three Choirs Festival, one of the world’s oldest classical music festivals that rotates annually among Gloucester, Hereford, and Worcester.
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Other programs affected include the Global Streets initiative, which brings subsidized international outdoor performances to English cities, and Refugee Week activities. These may also face funding uncertainties due to the tightened budget.
“We’re looking at areas to save money, which likely means some festivals that traditionally received funding will no longer be guaranteed support,” Courtney told the council meeting on January 14. Nonetheless, the council will continue promoting these events via marketing efforts through Visit Gloucester.
Funding will still be provided for civic events such as Gloucester Goes Retro and the Lantern Parade, with plans to boost income generation and community participation to further ease the council’s financial burden.
Councillor Rebecca Trimnell expressed regret over the cuts, highlighting how culture, often viewed as a non-essential service, is usually the first area affected during budget reductions. She praised the culture team’s work and voiced hope for an increased budget in the future, emphasizing the importance of cultural activities for the city.