Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Events Champion, Councillor Adam Wilson has praised the resilience of local event organisers during the COVID-19 pandemic in his annual report to Full Council.
The Events Champion Annual Report covers work undertaken on the council’s Major Festivals and Events Strategy. The strategy has been impacted by the current pandemic with several scheduled events this year now unable to go ahead. In August this year Councillor Adam Wilson hosted three virtual roundtables with local event organisers to understand the challenges they face and what the future holds for their events and festivals. While the sector faces a number of challenges going forward event organisers are working hard within their communities, delivering their event differently or working with young people to provide skills and training which are vital for the sector going forward.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the council’s Major Festival and Events Strategy 2018-2021 had delivered results for the Dumfries and Galloway economy. The strategy had generated £16.355 million for the local economy, meaning that for every £1 spent by the council generated £30 for the local economy. Key highlights of the strategy over the last year include the first Skiffieworlds 2019 event in Stranraer, a new autumn events programme marketing, which supported a number of events to increase visitor numbers and a successful Stage 1 finish of the Tour of Britain in Kirkcudbright.
Councillor Adam Wilson said: “Our Major Festival and Events Strategy has demonstrated that it is delivering results for our region’s economy and ensuring that we grow the events and festivals sector here in Dumfries and Galloway.”
“Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have significantly impacted the sector but our event organisers have been resilient during this time. From a virtual Wigtown Book Festival to the Dumfries TV project our event organisers have adapted to either deliver their event differently, work with local communities or work with young people to provide skills and training which are vital for the sector.”“Our council has already started to lobby on behalf of the sector for a fair share of national funding to be provided to event organisers in Dumfries and Galloway, and to ensure that the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency provides unique support to re-build the sector in the South of Scotland. In April this year our council provided urgent financial support to events where required, we will continue to be flexible and play our part going forward.”
• The Annual Report going to Full Council can be found at https://dumfriesgalloway.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=137&MId=4962
