A Victorian Fair linked to The Bowes Museum’s 125th anniversary along with an expanded three-day market featuring up to 100 stalls will form the centrepiece of the festival.
The Bowes Museum head of finance Richard Welsby told members of Barnard Castle Town Council’s partnership committee that admission to the fair and market in the museum grounds would cost £5 per adult and £2.50 to £3 for children.
He said the idea was to do “something that is worth paying for”.
He added: “There will be traditional fairground rides that will be free as part and parcel of it and free entrance to the museum.
“We think it will be worth the entrance fee. You are not forced to come – you can stay away if you choose.”
However, councillors expressed their unease at the charge.
Cllr Roger Peat said: “The comments I have had – they don’t like the idea of having to pay to go into The Bowes Museum grounds.”
Members also expressed their concern that £2,000 of town council money which had been set aside to help celebrate the museum’s 125th anniversary was being swallowed up to help pay for the festival – especially if residents were then expected to pay the entrance fee as well.
Mayor Cllr Sandra Moorhouse, who is also chairman of the museum's Friends group, said: “The whole idea of the £2,000 was raised by me. The original idea of that £2,000 was to develop something or hold something which gave the local residents the feeling that they were celebrating 125 years of The Bowes Museum.
“I see them (the festival and the £2,000) as two separate things. The council bit should be something for the people. It just does not seem to fit with what we had originally thought that was for.”
Cllr Peat added: “The £2,000 has been paid for by residents. We have to think what are the residents getting for their £2,000.”
In response to a query from committee chairman Cllr Mark Wilkes, Mr Welsby said the council's £2,000 had not been earmarked to pay for a specific part of the festival.
He said organisers could choose a particular area in which to allocate the money or “...we could abandon this and come up with another event for residents” during what remains of the museum’s 125th anniversary year.
Cllr Moorhouse asked whether withdrawing the council’s money from the festival would affect the event.
Mr Welsby said: “It would downgrade it quite a bit.”
He added that organisations including The Hub, The Witham and the business association were keen for the festival to go ahead.
“We have consulted with some shop owners and they have been positive should we get the go-ahead for the festival concept.”
Following the discussion, town councillors backed the idea for the five-day Barnard Castle Christmas Festival. However, they said they were only willing to contribute £2,000 if it would be spent on something which had an “identifiable benefit” for residents. They also agreed that The Bowes Museum festival working group, which includes members of the town council, should update councillors at their meeting on November 13.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.