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The Arts Council confirm festival's funding for 2008

Queer Up North is saved

Saturday, 2 February 2008

Praise be to the power of the pen and the petition. Thanks to massive support from the community and a strong appeal from Queer Up North, the Arts Council have had a rethink and announced they will fund the festival for 2008/09. Arts Council England North West's Regional Council met on 25 January and considered Queer Up North's response to its proposed cut and in a letter dated 31st January outlined their position:

“The Arts Council acknowledged from the outset that Queer Up North had improved over the last 12 months, but [that it] continues to have some concerns around value for money, distinctiveness, and artistic quality. However, it was accepted that overall the Arts Council had underestimated the degree of positive change in the organisation in the last 12 months. It was agreed to confirm funding for Queer Up North for 2008/09 with £97,275 to allow delivery of the 2008 festival. The Arts Council propose setting agreed success measures with Queer Up North for the 2008 festival around artistic quality, distinctiveness, value for money and governance.”

Queer Up North 2008 is going will go ahead and Jonathan Best, Artistic Director of Queer Up North, is one relieved man. “We’re very pleased that the Arts Council has taken on board the points in our appeal and we look forward to a constructive working relationship in the future. There’s lots of good news today, and we are particularly pleased for the four organisations in the North West region that have had a funding uplift. We look forward to reviewing with the Arts Council all of Queer Up North’s work – the 2008 festival, our ambitious touring and commissioning plans for 2009 and beyond, and our unique programme of work with young people across Greater Manchester and the UK. The Arts Council still has a few concerns about queerupnorth – but we’re confident that we can address them fully. We have an exciting programme of work planned, and we’re happy that we can now get on with making it happen.”

As for the support so made gave to this most unique of festival’s Jonathon Best was impressed. “We would not have succeeded in persuading the Arts Council of our case without the thousands of supporters who have signed the petition, written letters, and spoken in support of us over the last few weeks. Your support has been crucial, and we thank every single one of you.”

www.queerupnorth.com