Blas Festival Bucks Credit Crunch To Post Record Figures
The Blas Festival has enhanced its reputation as the fastest growing festival in the UK by showing an increase in ticket sales of 25 per cent. Thousands attended its cultural events of music and Gaelic across the Highland region with half of them selling out and 80 per cent of all available seats taken.
The festival, a key part of the Homecoming Scotland celebrations, was staged in over 40 venues ranging from village halls to Eden Court Theatre and Inverness Airport, and took place from the 4th-12th September. Blas, in partnership with the Highland Council’s Art Links Officer, also delivered a Schools and Community programme for over 4000 young people in the region, taking the festival’s audience to over 11,000 people.
Festival Director Donna MacRae said: “We are absolutely delighted with these attendances for the fifth Blas Festival. It proves that the people of the Highlands and visitors from overseas want to experience Highland culture. Given these stricken economic times it is a particularly impressive performance. We have delivered exciting events which the public have supported in their thousands and we have provided real value for money.
“Added to the success of our Schools and Community Programme we have educated, informed and of course, entertained. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors for their support. They are to be congratulated for their foresight and commitment, not least of these being the Highland Council who provide funding, expertise, advice and belief. We are already planning for 2010 and intend to do even better in attracting yet more people to the Highlands and our fantastic culture.”
Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of The Highland Council’s Administration said: “Blas is going from strength to strength with great concerts attracting packed audiences. These results show the festival is going in the right direction and that we are right to give it our support. It is a superb showcase for what the region has to offer and could act as a role model for providing an effective and indigenous festival to widespread communities.”
Marie Christie, Project Director for Homecoming Scotland 2009, said: “The expanded Blas 2009 Festival was an exciting highlight of the Homecoming programme. We’re delighted that so many more people took part and travelled to the Highlands to experience this rich celebration of Highland culture, music and heritage. Congratulations to the Blas team.”
The festival is supported by EventScotland, the national events agency. Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland said: It’s great to see Blas going from strength to strength. The festival is very much a signature event for Scotland - showcasing all that’s best and truly unique about the country’s culture.”
FIGURES
· Blas Total Attendance 2009 7025
Blas Total Attendance 2008 5620
This repesents a rise in numbers of 1405, a % rise of exactly 25%
· Sold out events 21 (50%)
· Total seats available 8875
Total taken up 7142
2009 Festival 80% against seats available
Featured artists during Blas included top musical talent such as Dougie MacLean, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, and Karen Matheson.
Information about the festival can be found at http://www.blas-festival.com/