Festival Forced to Cancel
29th April 2011
It is with sincere regret that the Phoenix Arts Festival committee are left with no alternative but to cancel the festival due to take place in the Town Park on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th May 2011
The festival committee have been trying to meet with town council officials since the 6th of January regarding the festival and have been met by constant bureaucracy.
The festival were requested by officials to complete an application available online, which gives clear guidelines to submit completed applications no less than 4 weeks before the event with adequate insurance to give the council adequate time to assess the application.
The festival, having engaged the local community to submit events they would like to see happen in the park during the festival, submitted an interim application 8 weeks in advance to gauge the councils response before a final event insurance policy was put in place and to give ample time to discuss any potential issues.
The council's response again took letter form and laid out new extensive insurance criteria which goes beyond insurance policies requested by other local authorities from community festivals and also changes from the preceding 11 years of the Phoenix Festival.
At every opportunity the festival has sought discussion and open dialogue of the facts regarding insurance, health and safety and event management issues with the council. The festival has also worked tirelessly to meet the high level of insurance requested.
The festival has at all times appreciated the paramount importance of insurance and agrees wholeheartedly that the local authority must be protected against onerous claims for any events taking place on Town Council property.
If the Town Council, which collectively includes officials and councillors wanted this festival to happen in the Town Park next week, it could have happened, but unfortunately apart from 3/4 local councillors, no efforts for resolution have been forthcoming.
The festival would like to express sincere apologies to all artists, contractors and volunteers who have been preparing specifically for this community festival. Uniquely all artists were giving voluntarily of their time and creating specific Phoenix themed events for the last 4 months.
The committee will be meeting next week to discuss when the Phoenix will rise again.
Thanks to the community and local businesses for supporting us.