Canterbury Festival sees surprise budget increase

MARKETING manager Stephanie Klinge-Davis told
Kent Press there was 'a sigh of relief' when the Arts
Council made the announcement.

THE ARTS Council has announced that the Canterbury Festival will receive an increase in its budget, despite an actual decrease in funding and fierce competition from other bidders.

The festival which attracts over 70,000 people each year will receive a 36% increase in funding for the next three years.

Marketing manager Stephanie Klinge-Davis said that if the festival had not secured funding from the Arts Council it would have been "very disappointing and really bad for the festivals programming."

"The extra money will enable us with our vision of making the festival bigger, better, explore different routes and always improve and continue to offer something for everyone."

The festival director Rosie Turner added: “We are very pleased and relieved that the Arts Council has awarded us a generous amount of funding.”

“It means that the Festival will be able to continue to provide high quality international arts events during October – so thankfully it’s business as usual.

“Some of our artistic colleagues elsewhere in the County have not been so fortunate as there is simply less money in the pot to distribute, but I feel that the Arts Council has demonstrated great care and transparency throughout this difficult process.”

The largest festival in the region will return to Canterbury in October.

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