Manchester International Festival plans stuff, wins award
Despite Manchester International Festival ‘not really [being] interested in emulating Edinburgh’, local businesses seem to hope that it will bring the same financial bonanza that Edinburgh sees each year.
That, I guess, is why the North West Business Leadership Team - aka North West’s leading businesses - have awarded it the Lever Prize and a cash award:
The judges were impressed by the breadth and scope of the Festival, with a programme created by leading artists from across the spectrum of popular culture, innovation and the arts. They were also attracted by the Festival’s unique approach in delivering a programme of newly-commissioned work, which reflects the NWBLT’s commitment to innovation and world-class research and development.
It seems slightly strange to me, however, that the award is going to a large, well-funded but unproven arts organisation that has so far only hosted a couple of events.
Couldn’t the prize money (�10,000) be better used by a small, struggling organisation in the region? All FM perhaps?
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They’d never do that - ALL FM’s an independent voice which has the propensity to turn round and start slating off the “North West’s leading businesses”. Far better to give £10,000 to an organisation that’s very unlikely to rock the boat.
You ought to have seen the fuss over “Under the Pavement” last year when someone dared to suggest, among other things, that McDonalds was harming the environment. It was almost McLibel all over again!
By Mr X on 02.16.07 4:32 pm
It always amazes me that when business shows some kind of generosity (any kind) there are critics of certain hue that then blast the wrong targets with the wrong evidence. Support the festival, it’s going to be good. Get more people listening to ALL FM through clever stunts and clever programming. Sponsors and advertisers will back it if it’s any good. It’s not rocket science.
By Michael Taylor on 02.17.07 10:25 am
It is going to be good and I am going to enjoy it. But does it really need this prize money? I notice the press release doesn’t mention how it’s going to be used…
By Mancubist on 02.17.07 10:45 am
ALL FM’s not about “clever stunts”, Michael. If you want kerr-azee DJs performing publicity stunts like monkeys, go to Key 103 or XFM. ALL FM is there to provide a voice to communities (both geographical and of interest) who wouldn’t otherwise be heard on Manchester’s relentlessly commercial airwaves.
You also appear to be unaware of the restrictions surrounding community radio sponsorship and advertising, which can account for no more than 50% of a station’s revenue. The rest has to come from other sources.
By Mr X on 02.17.07 6:40 pm
You’re right, X. I don’t know much about sponsorship rules for community radio. But it’s not fair to deduce that I am therefore advocating “monkey” stunts. Have you seen Salford Star? A community magazine with stunts that have grabbed attention and driven up their readers (hopefully).
By Michael Taylor on 02.19.07 8:47 pm
I’m more than aware of the Salford Star and really admire their style of journalism — getting those kids into the Lowry was a stroke of genius which caused a real buzz. I also think that style would really suit a station like ALL FM, less music and a more talk-based approach to programming. There’s way too much of presenters playing their own styles of music with scant regard for audience interests; but that’s beyond the scope of this thread.
What I’d love to see ALL FM become, in brief, is a sort of campaigning, “people’s” alternative to the status-quo presented by BBC Radio Manchester (with those pricks Wilson and Christian seemingly presenting most of the output) — but of course, the council would never fund something that slagged it off!
By Mr X on 02.20.07 10:35 am
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