Extract from IOMToday

Austerity at Guild

Published on Saturday 21 January 2012 11:45

THE 2012 Manx Music Festival, popularly known as The Guild, is all set to go ahead as usual, but the future of the long-running event is delicately poised financially.

At the recent annual general meeting, worrying news was aired that, while the music festival operated at a loss of £7,892 in 2010, accounts for 2011 indicated an overall loss of £17,772.

Treasurer Ernie Thorn explained the difference was largely due to a significant increase in hire charges from the Villa Marina and Gaiety complex, which have risen steeply since 2008.

Secretary for the Manx Music Festival David Cowley said: ‘We have financial reserves, but with current costs they’d be depleted within 12 years. We had to put the cost of entry up significantly and hope we get enough entries.’

He added: ‘I suppose rising rates is unavoidable, the Villa and Gaiety have tremendous overheads. But it’d be nice to see the government support us, as The Guild has been a platform for so many young performers.’

Nick Black, chief executive officer of the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure, explained the increased hire charges: ‘Historically, the Manx Music Festival has been heavily subsidised by the Isle of Man Government.

‘However, given the financial pressures facing the department, that position was no longer sustainable. The decision was made to bring the hire charges in line with other charitable/community events at the Villa Marina. To aid the transition, these charges have gradually increased over the last three years.’

He added: ‘The quotation given by the Villa Marina for this year’s event is less than £1,700 a day for the hire of the Royal Hall, Colonnade Suite and Promenade Suite over a nine day period. This includes a discount of one third for function hires over consecutive days and a further discount rate of a third off for a charity/community event.’

The eight-day festival averages 1,700 entries across categories in singing, dancing, speaking and musical instruments, with the standard high enough that last year adjudicators awarded distinction certificates to approximately 30 per cent of all the junior entrants.

This year is the 120th anniversary since Miss ML Woods founded the festival in 1892. It was initially staged at the Palace Ballroom before moving to the Villa Marina in the 1930s.

David said: ‘It’s a wonderful venue, the staff are second to none and we couldn’t do without it.

‘Cleveland night averages an attendance of 900, nowhere else could handle that– the Villa is so important for the island.’

To mark 120 years of the event, organisers are currently negotiating with sculptor Stephanie Quayle to commission a bust of Miss ML Woods, though elsewhere savings are being made wherever possible.

David explained: ‘We’re even stopping reserve seating for some performances, as having the public buy tickets and then choosing where they sit will save a lot of money. We’re fighting tooth and nail to make sure the festival is around forever!’

The deadline for entries is for the 2012 Guild is in two weeks’ time. Entry forms and a full syllabus can be found at www.manxmusicfestival.org

posted on: 21/01/2012

2012 Syllabus

Please note that the Syllabus is now available at a cost of £1 from the following retail outlets

posted on: 23/08/2011