IN spite of a #20,000 funding cut to the Aberdeen International Youth Festival by Aberdeen City Council more than 700 youngsters from 13 countries will travel to the city for the 26th year of the event, writes Graeme Smith.
''After 25 very successful years we had to justify ourselves all over again,'' said Councillor Len Ironside, chairman of the festival trust.
He said they had done this through an independent report which which showed it was not only one of the most successful in the UK but one of the longest running.
He added that although the programme was very much slimmer following the reduction of the council's sponsorship to #90,000 the quality had been maintained.
The private sponsorship has also fallen by #10,000 to #155,000 but that is primarily because there are fewer events to sponsor.
Festival director Nicola Wallis said that organising the event had been a greater challenge than she had anticipated. She said the organisation had started without any money and the aim was to follow one of the biggest and most ambitious ever last year.
''I would like to pay tribute to Aberdeen City Council because they have been facing the most appalling decisions in terms of their reduced budget and it has obviously been as bad for them as for us as they decide who was to get what out of public funding.
''The fact that they are still giving us a considerable grant does prove their feelings towards this festival, their faith in it and the fact that it does represent value for money and also the prestige it brings into the city.''
She said the private sector had remained loyal and had quickly put their money on the table making sure there would be a festival this year.
''Although the festival is slimmer it is more focused. It has lost nothing of its international breadth, variety, and range of events, and we have been able to introduce new elements.''
The festival, from August 5 to 15, will hold its first World Music Concert featuring music from Africa, Australia, Bulgaria, Scotland, Thailand, and Venezuela.
Tickets go on sale on June 22.
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