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Music festival falls victim to lack of funds
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard8 Apr 2009
AN anti-racism music festival has been cancelled by Boris Johnson because of a lack of sponsorship.
The Mayor will instead use the money from the Greater London Authority for a capital-wide event called Rhythm of London focusing on music education on 10-11 July.
Last year Mr Johnson caused an outcry when he removed the anti-racism message from promotional material for the Rise Festival and instead used the words "celebrating diversity".
The main sponsors, trade unions Unison and Unite the Union, withdrew their funding leaving City Hall to pay the £551,000 to stage the event in Finsbury Park.
Now the festival, which last year attracted 100,000 people, will not go ahead.
A spokesman for the Mayor 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."
Reader views (7)
The real issue is with sponsorship it wouldn't need government funding, but because Boris wants to pretend that there are no issues regarding racism in London then the community again has to suffer for the ignorance of the establishment. The festival was an amazing celebration of cultural diversity and harmony something that the streets of London should not be ashamed of admitting needs our energy and support.
- Benita, Finsbury Park, 05/05/2009 13:41
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Actually Matthew, it did have an anti-racist theme, and it didn't get sponsors.
- Sarah Davies, London, 08/04/2009 15:35
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Shame. Have good memories from the festival. I don't understant why Boris does not want it to have an anti-racism theme. If he did the sponsors would return and it could go ahead.
- Mathew, London, 08/04/2009 15:16
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An excellent decision, rock ceased to have a political relevance when it became a tool of a politically correct establishment.
- Sarah Davies, London, 08/04/2009 15:10
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This festival, like LMHR, was never about music but about the diversity industry.
Let those who want to listen to that sort of stuff pay for it themselves.
- J Norrris, Shoreditch, 08/04/2009 13:22
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Boris continues to impress. A good decision.
- Lord Elvis, London, 08/04/2009 12:17
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Good decisions Boris.
A far better use of Taxpayer money.
If this festival was so popular, then it wouldn't need Taxpayer support would it ?
- Cap, london, 08/04/2009 09:42
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