Beorn
04-10-2009, 06:05 PM
Boris Johnson scraps multicultural music festival Rise
Rise festival shelved due to lack of sponsors following last year's row over anti-racism message
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/4/8/1239197336115/Lovefoxxx-from-CSS-at-the-001.jpg
Boris Johnson (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/boris) has scrapped Rise, London (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/london)'s popular annual multicultural music event, despite insisting last year that major festivals (http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/festivals) are an "important way" of bringing Londoners from diverse backgrounds together.
The mayor said that he planned instead to stage "Rhythm for London" – two days of events to engageyoungsters to learn to play music.
Johnson blamed the decision to cancel Rise on its failure to find a sponsor. Last year the summer event attracted 100,000 people.
Rise was first set up in 1996 and was developed by Ken Livingstone, Johnson's predecessor as mayor, eventually becoming the largest anti-racist festival in Europe.
After taking office last May, Johnson dismayed the festival's main sponsors, trade unions Unison and Unite, by announcing that the anti-racism message would be removed from the festival's promotional material.
Sponsors withdrew their funding, leaving City Hall to pick up the £551,000 bill to stage the event in Finsbury Park, north London.
Johnson's director of arts policy, Munira Mirza, justified the decision at the time by saying it was "no longer appropriate to have overtly political organisations involved in the programme or in the community".
The Rise festival has been used as a platform by music artists to urge youngsters to vote against the British National party.
The mayor stressed at the time: "Major festivals and events are an important way of bringing Londoners from diverse backgrounds together, to celebrate what we share in common and enjoy the rich cultural contribution of different communities."
Johnson's office said the event would now be shelved altogether.
A City Hall spokesperson said: "Without a major sponsor in place it is not considered appropriate to spend such a large amount on a single music event, particularly during a recession.
"Instead, the money will be used to fund a multitude of events and grassroots activities across London. :thumb001: The mayor hopes to energise the local music scene across the capital, and feed into a longer term strategy to get young people more involved in making and listening to music."
Johnson's office insisted that the lack of sponsorship for this year's event had nothing to do with last year's row. "In the current climate it is more difficult to get sponsorship for all events," a spokesman said.
Unite criticised Johnson for cancelling the event, claiming it was never approached for funding this year though it admitted its funding support would have depended on whether the anti-racism theme had been restored.
Steve Hart, Unite's regional secretary, said: "Unite was never approached by the London mayor, or by any of his staff in the run-up to this decision. Unite is calling for the London mayor to work with the union to devise new strategies to combat racism and reconsider his decision to the cancel Rise Festival 2009."
While Rise is cancelled, Johnson is putting in £140,000 to fund a "major" concert in Trafalgar Square later this month to celebrate St George's day.
At the same time Johnson cut funding for the traditional St Patrick's day celebrations from £100,000 to £70,000. Ken Livingstone said Johnson's decision to cancel Rise was a "blow" for community relations.
He said: "There is now a clear pattern of Boris Johnson cutting funding to events celebrating the contributions of different communities to London and promoting good community relations.":rolleyes:
-(for Mr.Livingstone (http://www.quizilla.com/user_images/A/aliarson/1034387925_uresliam01.JPG))-
Labour London assembly member Jennette Arnold said: "The festival embodied all that is good about London, bringing people of all ages and cultures together. It was a celebration of London for Londoners – something Boris just doesn't get.
"It's no great surprise the mayor couldn't find a sponsor for the event, given that he had already got rid of all its meaning. Who is going to sponsor a festival of nothing?" -(the English taxpayer? Just a guess:rolleyes:)-
Johnson's Rhythm for London event will see two days of music events and activities, from performances in school to street pianos in London squares, to inspire youngsters to take up music.Source (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/apr/08/boris-rise-scrapped)
Rise festival shelved due to lack of sponsors following last year's row over anti-racism message
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/4/8/1239197336115/Lovefoxxx-from-CSS-at-the-001.jpg
Boris Johnson (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/boris) has scrapped Rise, London (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/london)'s popular annual multicultural music event, despite insisting last year that major festivals (http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/festivals) are an "important way" of bringing Londoners from diverse backgrounds together.
The mayor said that he planned instead to stage "Rhythm for London" – two days of events to engageyoungsters to learn to play music.
Johnson blamed the decision to cancel Rise on its failure to find a sponsor. Last year the summer event attracted 100,000 people.
Rise was first set up in 1996 and was developed by Ken Livingstone, Johnson's predecessor as mayor, eventually becoming the largest anti-racist festival in Europe.
After taking office last May, Johnson dismayed the festival's main sponsors, trade unions Unison and Unite, by announcing that the anti-racism message would be removed from the festival's promotional material.
Sponsors withdrew their funding, leaving City Hall to pick up the £551,000 bill to stage the event in Finsbury Park, north London.
Johnson's director of arts policy, Munira Mirza, justified the decision at the time by saying it was "no longer appropriate to have overtly political organisations involved in the programme or in the community".
The Rise festival has been used as a platform by music artists to urge youngsters to vote against the British National party.
The mayor stressed at the time: "Major festivals and events are an important way of bringing Londoners from diverse backgrounds together, to celebrate what we share in common and enjoy the rich cultural contribution of different communities."
Johnson's office said the event would now be shelved altogether.
A City Hall spokesperson said: "Without a major sponsor in place it is not considered appropriate to spend such a large amount on a single music event, particularly during a recession.
"Instead, the money will be used to fund a multitude of events and grassroots activities across London. :thumb001: The mayor hopes to energise the local music scene across the capital, and feed into a longer term strategy to get young people more involved in making and listening to music."
Johnson's office insisted that the lack of sponsorship for this year's event had nothing to do with last year's row. "In the current climate it is more difficult to get sponsorship for all events," a spokesman said.
Unite criticised Johnson for cancelling the event, claiming it was never approached for funding this year though it admitted its funding support would have depended on whether the anti-racism theme had been restored.
Steve Hart, Unite's regional secretary, said: "Unite was never approached by the London mayor, or by any of his staff in the run-up to this decision. Unite is calling for the London mayor to work with the union to devise new strategies to combat racism and reconsider his decision to the cancel Rise Festival 2009."
While Rise is cancelled, Johnson is putting in £140,000 to fund a "major" concert in Trafalgar Square later this month to celebrate St George's day.
At the same time Johnson cut funding for the traditional St Patrick's day celebrations from £100,000 to £70,000. Ken Livingstone said Johnson's decision to cancel Rise was a "blow" for community relations.
He said: "There is now a clear pattern of Boris Johnson cutting funding to events celebrating the contributions of different communities to London and promoting good community relations.":rolleyes:
-(for Mr.Livingstone (http://www.quizilla.com/user_images/A/aliarson/1034387925_uresliam01.JPG))-
Labour London assembly member Jennette Arnold said: "The festival embodied all that is good about London, bringing people of all ages and cultures together. It was a celebration of London for Londoners – something Boris just doesn't get.
"It's no great surprise the mayor couldn't find a sponsor for the event, given that he had already got rid of all its meaning. Who is going to sponsor a festival of nothing?" -(the English taxpayer? Just a guess:rolleyes:)-
Johnson's Rhythm for London event will see two days of music events and activities, from performances in school to street pianos in London squares, to inspire youngsters to take up music.Source (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/apr/08/boris-rise-scrapped)