MusicFest Vancouver Takes a Breather

The show ain't over, but it's intermission time at MusicFest Vancouver as they assess their current financial situation. 

MusicFest Vancouver's news release, issued November 20, 2012, states:

The Vancouver Summer Festival Society (“MusicFest Vancouver”) has run into some financial difficulties and with great regret we will be suspending the 2013 festival. “We are very proud of our 12 years of tremendous classical, jazz, and world music experiences each August and throughout BC,” explained Morris Biddle, president of MusicFest Vancouver. “However, in common with many arts organizations, we have experienced reductions in all sources of revenue to the extent that we cannot meet our current financial obligations and we as an organization must examine all possible solutions and outcomes going forward.”  

During our 12 exciting years we have enhanced the cultural life of Vancouver with over 650 free and ticketed events and paid over 2 million dollars to BC artists alone. Hundreds of volunteers have contributed more than 20,000 hours of their time and energy to this festival and we have enjoyed incredible support from both the public and private sector. Most especially we have enjoyed our wonderful partnerships with musicians, singers and performers from all around the world, across Canada and from here in BC.

Our board of directors will continue to find ways to solve our financial difficulties and seek options that would allow MusicFest Vancouver to resume its mandate of providing world class classical, jazz and world music throughout BC.

If you wish to assist MusicFest with its current financial issues, donations can be made through http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?charityID=s54905 

For more information, please email info@musicfest.com and someone will get back to shortly.

We at the Alliance are sad to hear of MusicFest's current financial challenges and their decision to suspend the 2013 festival. We are also very hopeful that the organization can resolve its current difficulties and quickly return to health. Over the past 12 years, MusicFest has produced some of British Columbia's most exciting musical events. The financial situation is daunting, but with help from their audiences and supporters, MusicFest Vancouver has good chances for a strong turnaround. We look forward to the return of this flagship festival in future seasons.