A DUCHESS and a council are singing from different song sheets over the cancellation of “Scotland’s finest boutique music festival”, it has emerged.
The Best of the West Festival, known as BOWFest, has been held in the grounds of Inveraray Castle – the ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll – since 2011.
Eddi Reader, Skipinnish and Blazin’ Fiddles are amongst the acts to have performed at the weekender, which also showcased the region’s food and drink.
But organisers have pulled the plug on this September’s event, with Eleanor, Duchess of Argyll, citing a lack of public funding as a key factor.
She said: “We receive no government support and Argyll and Bute Council have withdrawn their financial assistance whilst providing significant funding to other similar events. Funding available from some local community sources has also been consistently denied despite the proven local interest and economic benefits.
“I wish all festivals and events in Argyll all the best for 2019 and onwards. I know they do a fantastic job in promoting the area and look forward to attending and enjoying some of them with my family.
“It is a huge regret that we can no longer deliver a family festival beneficial to the community in this part of Argyll but to bring a freshness and a continuity to this, or any event, requires support both financial and in kind.”
The news follows research last week that highlighted the area’s music tourism potential.
According to the Duchess, the non-profit festival has netted £1 million a year for the local economy, with 30,000 people attending since its inception.
Backed by private sponsorship, any returns were ploughed back into the staging of the next event.
She told The National: “I have never had funding from the council.
“I was not allocated anything in the new Argyll festivals and events fund either. My vision was to promote the amazing produce and talent – including young as well as established talent – that we have in the west coast, and all in the grounds of the world famous Inveraray Castle.
“The feedback from visitors, sponsors and people who have performed at and supported the festival has been huge and there is shock and disappointment at our decision, which I can assure you has not been made easily.”
Victoria Winters, of the Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative, called the cancellation “a huge shame” for music fans, food producers and businesses, with local accommodation providers set to lose out on custom.
Tiree Music Festival, also in Argyll and Bute, was granted £12,500 by the council this year, with Oban Live receiving £15,000 and Cowal Highland Gathering – the area’s biggest event – drumming up £49,100.
The cash was allocated from the local authority’s large grant fund.
The National understands that prior support to BOW Fest ran to around £2500, which helped pay for the event’s craft tent, a space that promoted local businesses.
Argyll and Bute Council said it was “disappointed” by the call-off, adding: “We provide funding where possible for events. However, it should be noted that our contribution to Bowfest has been low-level and on an ad-hoc basis, rather than as a key partner.
“Given ongoing cuts to our budgets, expectations of councils have to be realistic and events have to be commercially sustainable.”
Local councillor Sandy Taylor said he was “surprised” by the loss of the “really good cultural addition”, adding: “I was unaware at any point of this group asking for support from the council.
“Had they done that, I would have offered my support.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here