Tourism NI has cut funding for the world famous Derry Halloween event for the coming year by £32,000.
Members of the Business and Culture Committee were told that this cut combined with cost increases may mean some aspects of the overall marketing and programming effort will have to be scaled back.
Aeidin McCarter, Council’s Head of Culture informed members that the application to Tourism NI international event fund for £150,000 for the 2022 festival had been reduced to £118,000.
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The overall budget for the event for 2022 is £470,000. This includes £328,000 from Derry City and Strabane council, £118,000 from Tourism NI and £24,000 from other income.
Councillors were informed that ‘ongoing discussions are being had with partners in the Executive Office and Donegal County Council to identify other opportunities to enhance this budget.’
Elected representatives were given details of the 2022 event which will run from October 28 – 30.
Ms McCarter said: “For 2022 the aim is to focus the ‘Awakening the Walled City’ across two zones, within the Walled City and at St Columb’s Park.
“The main Halloween parade and fireworks display will take place on October 31 in the traditional format and times. Officers are also planning Haunted markets, street entertainment, a Little Horrors children’s programme and much more throughout the festival.”
The Head of Culture added: “Members should note that in 2019 pre pandemic Derry Halloween attracted over 145,000 visitors and achieved 16,500 bed nights with over £3million in economic impact.”
An updated report with full details on the wider event will be brought to members in September.
Meanwhile, the Foyle Maritime Festial is also facing cut backs with their application for support from Tourism NI cut from £150,000 to £110,000.
Sinn Fein Councillor Conor Heaney laid the blame for the cuts firmly on Brexit saying: “These budget cuts are a direct result of Brexit, this is the outworking of Brexit in terms of the loss of EU funding to the Department for the Economy and Tourism NI so Brexit just isn’t about trade it’s having a direct result on our ratepayers with the loss of this funding and us having to review how we bring forward these festivals.
“It’s important people are aware of it and it’s only the beginning of the folly of Brexit and the fact we have been dragged out of the EU against our will.”
Committee members heard details of the Maritime Festival which will take place from Wednesday, July 20 until Sunday, July 24.
Yachts from the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will begin arriving in the Foyle from July 14 onwards and welcoming them will be the three-day LegenDerry Street Food Festival bringing together the very best of local street food, complemented by craft drink producers, live DJ Sets and a totally unique dining experience.
Ms McCarter gave more details of events to councillors saying: “For the 2022 event, the festival theme is ‘What lies Beneath’ which will see all of the festival animation and dressing carefully selected to re-create the spectacle, scale and splendour of the underwater world and its inhabitants, in a celebration and awareness of ‘What Lies Beneath’ in our rivers and oceans.
“Walk through Arco, a giant shark’s mouth, watch in wonder as Hakim the ancient Sea Turtle takes a stroll along the river-front and visit Dopey Dick, who has returned on the 45th anniversary of his first visit to the city to spread a very important message."
Councillor Heaney spoke of his ‘delight’ that Dopey Dick is coming back adding: “As someone who is old enough to remember watching the original from the roof of Nazareth House Primary School, I look forward to seeing that attraction and what he has to say.”
Agreeing, SDLP Councillor Rory Farrell said: “Like Councillor Heaney, I’m looking forward to seeing the return of Dopey Dick, Derry’s favourite whale.”
Councillor Farrell laid the blame for the funding cuts at the door of the DUP.
“It has to be noted Tourism NI have cut their funding contribution and that’s because we have no budget at Stormont and we have no budget because we have no government and that’s due to the DUP’s stubbornness.
“The reality is until the DUP go back into government and put people first we are going to have festivals that have less funding than they should have and people will not enjoy them as much as they should so the DUP have a lot to do to earn people’s trust.”
Proposing that council officers meet with some of the event providers, Sinn Fein Councillor Patricia Logue voiced her concern that with the ongoing cost of living crisis, many local families would struggle to be able to afford some of the rides and events for their children.
“I do think, while it is great we will be welcoming visitors from all over the island and international visitors as well, we have a responsibility to our council residents and we need to ensure they can enjoy this festival to its fullest,” she said.
“They don’t need to feel they can’t visit because of affordability and there is a big, big issue bringing children to festivals and paying prices which are out of the reach of a lot of people within the council district.”
The Moor DEA representative also stated she would ‘like to see more local stalls be given the opportunity to sell at the festival’.
The proposal was unanimously supported and the recommendations for the festival were also approved.
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