Troubled times for Newtown Festival

By Michael Safi

Newtown’s annual festival took a beating last year with a significant drop in profits, but organisers are committed to rolling out stalls late this year.

Last month, figures revealed a sudden drop over two years of $45,000, with some stalls lying vacant – a first for the event.

Newtown Neighbourhood Centre CEO, Lisa Burns, said: “We can’t just point to one reason. Our overheads have increased, we had less sponsorship money. The Festival clashed with other events in the city.”

Ms Burns held meetings with festival organisers this week to secure the event’s short-term future. “We’re talking to new sponsors, and we should have some more get on board for this year.”

The Festival, which has run since 1979, is a major fundraiser for the Centre which offers services and advocacy to the community, especially to those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable. Funds from the 2010 event were used to create a women’s group, run computer and English classes, and set up a Homeless Persons Legal Service.

Ms Burns said there will be no new programs in the next six months because of last year’s shortfall.

One of the event’s organisers, Sue Andersen, said: “Local festivals are doing badly across the board, The situation here is dire. The amount of money we’re raising is not sustainable.”

Insurance and logistics costs are steadily increasing. Local sponsors are hard to secure, and their funds vary. The Marlborough Hotel donated $2000 in 2010, but last year gave only $500.

“We need to connect more with local businesses, gauge everyone’s support, and look at ways of involving them,” Ms Andersen says. Meetings with the Newtown Precinct Business Association have been scheduled for the coming months.

Revellers, she adds, need to understand that the festival is a crucial fundraiser. “People think we’re being greedy, but we’re not trying to make a business profit. The mission of the Centre is to cater for people in need in our community, and that’s what the money goes to fund.”

“If we got just one dollar from each person who walks through the gate, that would be enough to run it each year.”

Val Ziegler, a French student living in Newtown, has attended the festival for the last two years, but said: “No one really knows what it’s for. It’s an awesome event, good stands, great atmosphere. I know it’s for a charity, but I’m not sure which one.”