Celebrity backers of the threatened Aberdeen International Youth Festival (AIYF) have argued that withdrawing funding for the event would be a “very sad day” for the city.
World-renowned Scottish percussionist, Dame Evelyn Glennie, and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire principal, Julian Lloyd Webber, have weighed into the ongoing row.
Last week, councillors on the education committee unanimously voted in a private session to cut the council’s £150,000 contribution to the annual event – thereby putting its future in doubt.
The authority has instead pledged to invest £100,000 for events to mark Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018.
As a cultural phenomenon, which has run for the past 46 years, AIYF attracts hundreds of performers from around the world to the Granite City.
But it is understood that around £110,000 of the festival’s total £468,000 budget is allocated to staffing and a number of events are not held in the city.
However, Dame Evelyn said she was “astonished” to hear of the decision.
She added: “I see these budget cuts as a devastating blow to the city of Aberdeen, a city that takes pride in its artistic development.”
Professor Lloyd Webber, the younger brother of composer Andrew, responded: “This would be a very sad day for Aberdeen.”
Former council leader, Len Ironside, who was the chairman for the festival between 1996 and 2003 and then again between 2014 and 2017, said: “If the funding is withdrawn, it would be an absolute tragedy.
“This kind of money is a drop in the ocean when you look at the council’s £600million budget.
“I have seen Arabs and Israelis dancing together to the sound of bagpipes- where else does that happen? The festival is a badge of honour for the city.”
AIYF chief executive Stewart Aitken confirmed the trust would continue to push for the “critical” council cash. He added that the full cut had come as “a complete surprise”.
Council education convener John Wheeler argued the new £100,000 pot would put young people themselves as the “driving force”.
He added: “With this new fund, we’re making a step change from the way in which money has been allocated historically.
“Some felt that public money was becoming tied down in salaries and administration rather than creating the environment sought after by young people at festival events.
“This new approach is designed to make sure young people are the driving force in creating a cultural scene their peers would want to participate in.”
The AIYF decision has caused controversy around the north-east and beyond.
But some have also praised the decision as a way for the festival to “stand on its own two feet” as the local authority faces down £125million of cuts over the next five years.
Dame Evelyn Glennie said: “I was astonished to find out about the Aberdeen Youth Festival’s eminent cuts, a festival known throughout the world as one of the leading festivals for youths.
“This festival has profoundly influenced me as a musician and human being, allowing me to meet and perform with a myriad of international youngsters.
“I sincerely hope there’s still time to revise this decision so that we may allow the festival to continue inspiring young musicians as it did with me and countless others.”
Julian Lloyd Webber said: “A nation is defined by its culture – and culture is the best way of bringing people together.
“The city should be investing in its young talent and this short-sighted decision would be sending out a very negative message.”
AIYF staff member Ben Smith added: “It was through AIYF that I decided I wanted to pursue a career in theatre. This festival is unique- there isn’t another like it in the world.”
But former council finance convener Willie Young said “It’s always easy to be critical of the council making a difficult decision, however I believe the decision may actually be one of the best things that could happen to the AIYF because the festival now needs to stand on its own two feet and show the world that it can operate without council finance or direction.”
Education vice convener Lesley Dunbar said: “The proposals from the Administration received cross party backing.
“What we’re doing here isn’t a political point, it’s recognising that the public want funding for young people to be spent on young people themselves.”