PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The much anticipated annual Plett Arts Festival, scheduled for June this year, has been cancelled after funding for the event could not be secured.

The sixth edition of this festival, which usually includes a variety of colourful events and activities ranging from international performances to unique cultural activities, was set to take place in June and July this year.

"While Plett Tourism regrets the cancellation, due in part to a lack of funding, we are engaging with potential sponsors for 2020," said Plett Tourism spokesperson Patty Butterworth.

Responding to questions from Knysna-Plett Herald, Plett Tourism chair Peter Wallington said they requested funding for the festival, which is usually supported by Bitou Municipality, from the municipality's adjustment budget to cover the cost of the festival, but that the request had been turned down. The reason given was that because Plett Tourism is not a municipal entity it could not request money from the adjustment budget.

This is the second major Plett festival to have been postponed. Earlier this year the Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival, which was scheduled to take place in March, had been postponed to next year following the late withdrawal of the municipality's financial support.

Bitou Municipality became involved in sponsoring the event – which attracts visitors from across the country every year – after the festival's main sponsor withdrew its sponsorship in 2017. The municipality, however, came to the rescue to ensure that the festival did not lose the momentum it had built up over four years.

The municipality indicated that it would again contribute to the festival this year, but recently informed Plett Tourism that it would no longer do so.

"As with Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival 2019, we are exploring partnerships with organisations and businesses which are truly committed to building sustainable tourism business in Plettenberg Bay," Butterworth said.