Perth Festival of the Arts should take “a hard look” at broadening its popular appeal, a councillor claimed this week.
While considering an application to the council from the festival for funding support, Councillor Ian Campbell said he was “a bit disappointed that, after 43 years, ticket sales are to 8,000 people”.
Mr Campbell told the enterprise and infrastructure committee that this didn’t seem right when television reality star Mark Wright could attract 26,000 people to the Christmas lights switch-on.
He noted that the economic impact of the annual festival to the local economy was put in the region of £100,000.
“We are being asked for £18,800 of support for an event that brings in 8,000 people and doesn’t have a great economic impact,” said Mr Campbell.
“I suggest we look at this more closely and the festival needs a long, hard look at attracting more people.”
Mr Campbell stressed that, despite his observations, he was not suggesting that they did not provide financial support to the festival of the arts.
Committee convener John Kellas leapt to the defence of the festival and the indirect benefits of the event in putting Perth on the cultural map and increasing the reasons for visiting the city.
He said it was not all about “bums on seats” and was a “loss leader for a greater gain”.
A report before the committee from depute director (environment) Barbara Renton outlined various difficulties faced by the organising committee.
“In 2013, the 42nd Perth Festival of the Arts recorded ticket sales of 8,879, which was a 16.5% increase on the 2012 total of 7,617,” she said.
“The festival had seen a period of significant audience growth between 1997 and 2010, with sales increasing from 7,139 to 11,662.
“Due to difficult trading conditions, ticket sales fell in 2011 and 2012 to 8,663 and 7,617, respectively.
“This was in the context of reduced programmes compared with previous years.
“It was acknowledged by the organisers that the period of sales growth was difficult to sustain in the present economic climate and in the face of challenging circumstances for public and charitable funding.
“The 2013 ticket sales total, therefore, represents a small recovery.”
Last year’s programme included Van Morrison, the English Touring Opera, Sir James Galway, Jools Holland, the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, though the organisers contended that the festival was not just about attracting, big international stars but also about nurturing local talent, said the report.
Councillor John Flynn said that the festival had previously had an elitist reputation and, although the appeal had been broadened, more could be done.
Councillor Alan Livingstone said the festival of the arts had his full support but he wondered if the fringe element could be enlarged to take in other communities around Perth and Kinross.
Falling ticket sales was a countrywide problem and not just an issue in Perth, commented Councillor Ann Gaunt, who knew of people who had moved to the area simply because of Perth’s cultural offerings.
The committee unanimously approved funding of £18,000 towards the 2014 and 2015 Perth Festival of the Arts.