SEDGEFIELD NEWS - Sedgefield's annual Slow Festival is on hold for 2018, say the organisers.
“We still haven’t been able to find a financial sponsor and we simply aren’t able to continue to cover the costs of putting the festival together this year,” says head organiser Amanda Dixon.
“With the cost of the festival escalating each year, I cannot take on the financial risk and continued financial debt in trying to pull this festival together again.
"I have thus made the decision, with the backing of the Slow Fest committee, to place the festival on hold until financial sponsors can be brought on board.”
Dixon says an enormous amount of stress is placed on her shoulders to source any and all means of funds to cover the costs of the festival each year and despite the belief by many that she and her committee make large profits from the festival, this is very far from the truth.
Although applications for funding from provincial tourism agency Wesgro and Business and Arts SA (Basa) go out in early January each year, there is simply no guarantee that they will allocate funds to the festival, Dixon says.
Official funding at last minute
“In fact, even when funds are allocated, the communication of such funds is only given to two to four weeks prior to the festival,” Dixon explains.
“We go on faith and prayers that funding will come through from them. I am constantly worrying whether the income from the festival will be enough to cover the outstanding costs.
"It’s an enormous weight and stress that sits on my shoulders, every second of every day, for months!”
This Slow Festival "pause" will be sad news for Sedgefield. The event has taken place annually for the last consecutive eight years and has seen amazing growth in popularity.
Many concur it has grown to become one of the best genuine family festivals in South Africa, and the proof can be seen by the increasing flood of festivalgoers coming to the village every Easter.
Stand-up paddlers getting ready for the Pili Pili Fun SUP Race 2016. Photo: Mark Dixon
"The benefits to local business goes without saying. Indeed, Sedgefield has enjoyed a huge amount of time in the media spotlight through the festival, which has further helped to put this unique coastal town on the map," adds Dixon.
Important charity component
A primary focus of the festival is to assist all of Sedgefield’s charities in raising funds, as well as communicating the true message of Easter.
Working alongside Dixon is a committee comprising a solid and dedicated team of the same people year on year.
“They are amazing,” she says, “They all work alongside me for months to bring this festival together for Sedgefield, without being remunerated (no, not a single one of us).
"Though it often costs us own money as well as time, we come back every year as a stronger team to do it for the camaraderie, fun, happiness and joy that it brings us as individuals, as well as the amazing cohesion and true sense of community it brings to the town.
“I feel strongly that those putting in so much work should be remunerated for their time and effort – or at the very least to be able to cover their own costs,” says Dixon.
“The long and the short of it is that the Slow Festival works for the town, it works for the businesses, it works for the charities, it works for the churches… but without a sponsor it just doesn’t work financially.”
Rethinking the way forward
So why press pause for 2018? “To restructure, redefine, reevaluate and rethink how we move the festival forward,” says Dixon.
“The committee would like to be able to look at different funding models and options, and to seek advice from more business-minded people. We want to connect with other small festivals, possibly even with a view to collaborate in the future.
The Music Trivia evening held during the Slow Festival has also proved a very popular event. Photo: Mark Dixon
"We’d like to interact more with the Sedgefield businesses, charities and churches so that we can get their input in how we can solve the funding issue and incorporate them more.
"Lastly, we need to continue to look for, source and secure financial sponsors for 2019.
"There are sponsors out there that align perfectly with our brand, we just need to find them," Dixon says.
“So we’re not saying 'it's the end', but rather that we're ‘pushing pause’, she adds.
Knysna Tourism chair Elmay Bouwer says the news is disappointing, but that the entity "is very happy to assist with the reevaluation wherever we can and will continue to offer our marketing and PR support".
"We remain hopeful that a corporate sponsor will see the value of the festival and come forward with an offer to assist, because in the present economic circumstances, that is the only way that the festival will be sustainable in the long term," Bouwer says.
* Contact Dixon should you feel you may have any positive thoughts, ideas, input or suggestions to help restructure the current model of the festival at events@tumbleweeds.co.za.
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