A minimum of between $1.5 to $2 million is the ideal budget needed to host all festivals in the territory at the highest level.
These were the figures presented by the Vice Chair of the Festival and Fairs Committee Mr. Birch Lettsome at a recent press conference after it was disclosed that the total budget for all festivals this year was just under $1 million.
Of the sum disclosed, it was revealed that $500,000 came from the government’s subvention.
Chairman of the Festival and Fairs Committee Mr. Dirk Walters provided more insight as justification for the $1.5 to $ 2 million figure which was presented as an ideal budget for all festivals.
He said most people are not aware of the broad spectrum of activities that falls under the Festival and Fairs Committee.
Walters said that these activities all utilize funds from the Committee’s budget.
Meanwhile, Committee member Stuart Donovan challenged the government to provide more funding for local festivals, stating that underfunding is the biggest issue facing festivals in the territory.