The organisers of the Stendhal Festival in Co Derry say a decision to cut funding from Tourism NI just weeks before the event takes place is "staggering".
Tourism NI said it is has "unfortunately" made "some difficult decisions" including scrapping its National Tourism Events Sponsorship Scheme in the current financial year.
With just weeks left before Stendhal kicks off at Ballymully Cottage Farm outside Limavady on July 6, organisers say Tourism NI should be "ashamed".
Read more: Stendhal Festival in Co Derry hoping to add to line-up in coming weeks
Festival Director, Ross Parkhill, said the news on the funding decision has added some serious financial pressures onto the event but with just 5 weeks to go, the best option was to move ahead with their plans and hope that additional ticket sales can cover the cut funding.
“To receive this letter, five weeks before our event, with no consultation whatsoever, is staggering”, he said.
“After deliberations with the Stendhal board, we have regrettably been forced to take the decision that weekend camping ticket prices will need to rise further than we previously anticipated from Monday, 12th June.
“We didn’t take this decision lightly as we take immense pride in the value of our ticket price comparable to other camping and non-camping festivals, but we have no alternative to attempt to safeguard the future of the festival, again.”
He continued: “The past number of years has just been one thing after another, coronavirus >Covid, cost of living and now severe, probably permanent funding cuts from our main tourist body. It is only a matter of time before a number of events in this country are gone forever because they are simply unaffordable for organisers to put on, particularly independent ones such as us.”
“People have no idea the wringer we and other independent events have been through this past three years and TNI should feel absolutely ashamed of themselves.”
Ross concluded: “We will carry on as best we can, as we always do. Unlike some, we understand the responsibility we have to our music and arts sector, which is why we are delighted to be able to announce that 40 more acts have recently been added to the bill.”
A spokesperson for Tourism NI said: “Tourism NI has now received an indicative budget allocation from the Department for 2023/24 which is significantly lower than in previous years. We are seeking to minimise the impact of the cuts on the wider tourism industry and this has unfortunately resulted in us having to take some difficult decisions as to how we spend our budgets this year. We have therefore had to take the regrettable decision not to operate the National Tourism Events Sponsorship Scheme in 2023/24."
The spokesperson added: "Whilst we are not in a position to provide sponsorship funding, we are keen to identify other ways in which Tourism NI may be able to support events in the year ahead and will be working closely with event providers. Our National Tourism Events Sponsorship Scheme is not designed to provide a source of long-term or core funding and, when operating, is always heavily oversubscribed."
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