Community steps in to save Plett Arts Fest
Plettenberg Bay community members and business owners are set on reviving the recently cancelled Plett Arts Festival.
The much anticipated sixth instalment of the festival, scheduled for June this year, was recently scrapped after funding for the event could not be secured.
Responding to questions from Knysna-Plett Herald Plett Tourism chairman Peter Wallington said they requested funding for the festival, which is usually supported by the 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 was 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 the coastal holiday town in March, had been postponed to next year following the late withdrawal the Bitou 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 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.
Plett Tourism spokesman Patty Butterworth since news of the arts festival postponement spread, members of the community have come forward to find a way of reviving the festival. “Plett Tourism is working with committed and passionate members of the Plett community who believe the Plett Arts Festival is too important to let die. It is hoped a festival can be put together by those who truly care about tourism, the Plett economy and Plett’s culture and heritage proposition. A formal announcement will follow once further planning has taken place. In the meanwhile the search for sponsorship for 2020 is ongoing,” Butterworth said.
Read a previous article here: Plett Arts Festival cancelled due to lack of funding
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News