Bristol Community Festival (BCF), them that run the Ashton Court Festival, have pulled the plug, are calling quits, cutting their losses, and getting the receivors in:
Bristol Community Festival, the not-for-profit company which organises the annual Ashton Court Festival has today announced that it has started the process of winding up the company. The directors have been in dicussions with insolvency practitioners with a view to appointing them to liquidate the company
Heavy rain over the weekend of the 2007 event forced the cancellation of the second day's entertainment resulting in financial losses which the organisation cannot sustain.
The directors met on the 19th July and concluded that there was no realistic prospect of continuing and reluctantly took the decision to fold the company. "It's a real tragedy that after 33 years we've been beaten by events beyond our control" said festival chariman Kevin Rooney. "After last year's difficulties we moved heaven and earth to save the festival and by Saturday night it looked like we'd succeeded. Being dealt this severe blow at the last minute is absolutely devastating."
From the ACF site
BBC
Bristol Community Festival, a not-for-profit company, is now talking to insolvency practitioners with a view to liquidating the company.
Well what can we say, without ranting and railing about it all? Gutted. Hard luck all. The vibes around last Sunday night were not far short of a wake, no doubt, but somewhere there was a glimpse of hope, but it was not to be.
Maybe a new thing will emerge; doubtlessley the city is full of promoters itching to do it, to take on the council, the H&S, the police, the punters etc. and good luck to them; here's what we have to say:
THANK YOU TO THE FESTIVAL ORGANISERS, BOARD AND VOLUNTEERS FOR GIVING IT ANOTHER CHANCE, PUTTING UP WITH ALL THE PRESSURE, KEEPING THE FAITH AND WORKING TO KEEP THIS ALIVE IN SPITE OF THE CRAZY SERIES OF MISHAPS; WE SALUTE YOU.
IT WAS WORTH THE EFFORT AND WE STILL LOVE YOU.
NOW GO AND REST :)
4 comments:
such a sad day, well done to all who worked hard for the past 33 years, and thanks..
i wonder if there will be an ashton court pheonix...
Such a shame! Wonder how many other festival organisers are going to go bust with this wash-out of a summer we're having!
I hope there's enough of a community spirit in bristol to maybe start something from scratch next year!
Ashton Court RIP! What a sad day, I always said people wouldn't miss it till it's gone and now here we are.
Ashton Court has been the absolute highlight of my year every year since I came to Bristol seven years ago.
As Venue says, I think the Council has more to answer for than they're letting on, tying up the organisers in red tape that ultimately hastened its demise - moving to a site with no proper access, huge licencing and security costs etc.
Suggest we all write/e-mail the Council to make our voice heard - name to follow!
Funny, years ago, when everyone chucked money into a bucket it all worked fine. Anyway, since the corporate sponsors got involved the atmosphere has been somewhat ruined.
I sincerely hope this is resurrected as the event it used to be - a community festival; providing hundreds of people of all ages from all walks of life with a great weekend and celebration of this amazing city!
If the water drained out of the docks the council would soon rush in to help. Where is their support?
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