07/12/2024
Association of Independent Festivals CEO John Rostron said: “This has been a devastating period for the UK’s festival organisers. Ours is a highly important sector that offers opportunities to artists, audiences, and develops creative skills and volunteering opportunities across all of the UK. The festival sector generates significant revenue in and around local economies as well as to the Treasury every year.
“We have campaigned tirelessly for targeted, temporary government intervention which, evidence shows, would have saved most of the independent events that have fallen in 2024. It is sad to see that this erosion has been allowed to continue under this government. We have great events, with great demand, and we’re doing all we can. They need to step up, and step up now.”
Seventy-two UK festivals have now announced a postponement, cancellation or complete closure in 2024 – double the amount that fell in 2023, according to the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF).