Urgent call for more funding for Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival.
Organisers of this year’s Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival today made an urgent call for extra funding after revealing they had so far only raised nearly a third of their target.
The 10-day festival planned for this summer has been backed by Sandwell Council, the Musicians’ Union and a US music TV station, and with money raised in a crowdfunding appeal the funding to date stands at £12,705. But Jim Simpson, whose Big Bear Music company has organised the annual festival for the last four decades, explained that this is only around 32.5% of the £40,000 needed to cover basic costs.
The 42nd Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival will include 170-plus performances from Friday 24th July to Sunday 2nd August, with more than 160 of them free admission across 98 venues. Mr Simpson said: “We are determined to not let anyone down – so come hell or highwater, the 42nd Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival will be waving the flag for jazz, blues and all the associated music!
“We want to send a huge ‘thank you’ to our sponsors Sandwell Council, the Musicians’ Union and Rockefellas TV. We are also grateful to dozens of individuals who have dug deep to show their love of jazz and blues through our crowdfunding appeal.
“We feel so lucky to have such committed support, and donations ranging from £5 to £200 have already topped £1,500. Every single extra pound we can raise will be crucial to help us break even. Yet despite the support we’ve received, we have to admit that things are not looking too good on the funding front. And so today we are urgently calling on any organisation or individual who is able to contribute to do so again this year.
“It is only through the support of live music fans that we are able to continue delivering this iconic event. Any support, no matter how big or small, makes a massive impact.”
Sandwell Council is the largest funder of the festival, with at least 26 live and free performances in the borough’s libraries, art galleries, pubs and visitor centres.
Councillor Michael Cooper, cabinet member for Customer Services and Neighbourhoods at Sandwell Council, said: “I hope everyone enjoys the festival! With artists from all over the UK, as well as musicians from much further afield, this year’s festival will offer top quality entertainment for Sandwell residents.
“The festival will also be bringing visitors into Sandwell, helping to support our local businesses and build a sense of pride in the places where we live and work.”
There are well over 60 other bands performing at the festival from throughout the UK as well as from France, the USA, Estonia, Japan and Venezuela. Donations can be made to the jazz festival’s crowdfunder here.
Funds are also being raised via easyfundraising.co.uk, a platform which allows shops and businesses to donate a small amount to the festival whenever the public makes online purchases. Email admin@bigbearmusic.com for more information.
Or to become an ‘in kind’ partner to the festival, contact Tim Jennings on 0121 454 7020 or at tim@bigbearmusic.com.
