Christopher BarrettThe Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) is calling on the UK government to up its support for the sector on the back of 141 event closures in past two and a half years.
With 20 festivals having closed already this year, AIF is calling on the Government to extend its recently announced VAT reduction on children’s tickets to next year. The scheme includes festivals.
The not-for-profit, which represents 170 UK music festivals that collectively sell more than 1.35 million tickets per year, said the move would not only benefit large sections of the festival-going public via reduced ticket prices, but will also help ease ongoing pressure on some festivals struggling to manage the pressure of high costs and cash flow challenges.
To help support the hugely creative sector sustain its status as a key economic contributor, AIF said the Government’s upcoming Creative Industries Sector Plan and Music Growth Package, which will see £30m invested in music over three years, should include specific support for independent festivals.
AIF has also suggested the Government pilot a Grassroots Music Festival Tax Relief scheme to support independent grassroots festivals, which are breeding grounds for industry and creative talent.
“Mostly, we’re seeing very strong demand from audiences, and some record sellouts, but independent festival promoters are seeing their margins become ever thinner, desperately trying to make ends meet while at the same time trying to keep their events as affordable as possible for the general public,” said AIF CEO John Rostron.
“We welcome The Great British Summer Saving initiative which will be helpful for family-oriented festivals but we need earlier commitment to the reduction for 2027, and specific, sector-wide support to stem cancellations and boost the growth of new events.”
WOMAD Glasgow was the 20th event to cancel, citing similar reasons as events including Melton Mowbray’s Country On The Eye Festival.