Issue - meetings

Option 1: Seek and accept external funding for both festivals

Option 2: Do not seek external funding for either festival

Advantages

Opportunity to secure funding for one or both major festivals for 2015/16 and potential to enter into a ‘Northern Lights’ partnership to develop funding bids for Light up Lancaster from 2016/17 onwards

Enhancing the district’s festival programme and significantly contribute to the visitor and night time economy

The proposed ‘signature’ events would fit and raise the profile of the new approved destination brands developed for Lancaster and Morecambe Bay

Fits well with the emerging arts strategy for the district

and the aims of Marketing Lancashire

The ‘Northern Lights’ partnership should result in raising Lancaster’s profile regionally, nationally and internationally as a key visitor destination and lead to an increase in visitor numbers 

No officer time required to seek, secure and manage external funding

No need to redirect the entire arts development budget, therefore a number of smaller arts projects could be delivered in 2015/16, or savings could be taken`

No requirement to undertake the role of accountable body for external funding

Disadvantages

Officer time is required to seek, secure and manage external funding

Council would be required to provide match funding at the same levels as 2014/15

Redirection of Council resources from the arts development budget in its entirety for 2015/16 to deliver Light up Lancaster

Without external funding the festivals would have to be significantly scaled down

Reduction in visitor numbers and visitor spend from scaled down festivals

Might not achieve aims of arts strategy or Marketing Lancashire in terms of promoting the District as a key visitor destination

Might prevent the Council from being involved in the ‘Northern Lights’ partnership and gaining numerous benefits including longer term funding for a Lancaster based event

Risks

The Council would be the accountable body for some or all external funding

Significant lack of additional economic impact from scaled down festivals