One of the biggest events on a Wiltshire town’s calendar has been cancelled amidst falling funding and “astronomical” cost increases.
The Devizes International Street Festival 2024 has been cancelled by organisers Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts (DOCA) after the group lost funding from Arts Council England.
DOCA had received Arts Council funding for over 20 years, to finance a busy schedule including the Carnival, Confetti Battle and Colour Rush, and Winter Festival.
This year the largest summer event on the calendar has been removed to allow the others to go ahead.
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A DOCA spokesperson said: "It is with sadness that we announce the cancellation of the International Street Festival 2024 due to loss of funding.
“For over 20 years the DOCA team have worked hard to secure funding from the Arts Council England in order to run our extensive programme of community events, and keep them free for everyone to enjoy.
“As a result of the change in the funding landscape nationwide, we will be looking for more local support to enable our other events to go ahead.”
Annabel Lake, the group’s production director, said DOCA was “devastated” by the news.
She added: “Unfortunately due to the complex nature and expense of the International Street Festival we will not be able to hold it this August.
“Over recent years the cost of putting on events has risen astronomically, as we can see from the sad demise of many national arts and music festivals.
“This is through a combination of less funding available and being unable to increase ticket prices to cover those costs due to the cost-of-living increases.
“Now more than ever it’s so important to keep alive free cultural community events that bring everyone together.”
Despite the setback, chair of trustees Cliff Evans believes DOCA will be able to run the other summer events as planned.
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He said: “Although the loss of funding means this year none of us will be able to enjoy the fantastic spectacle of the Devizes International Street Festival, I firmly believe that with your help, DOCA will be able to make up the shortfall in funds needed to run the other summer events, namely Picnic in the Park, the Carnival and the Colour Rush and Confetti Battle.”
It is hoped the street festival will return next year, while funding is being sought for the Winter Festival.
DOCA urged residents to support the arts industry and will be releasing details on how they can help fund the return of the festival and other events.
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