The Port Phillip Council is inviting public submissions for direction of the iconic St Kilda Festival in 2011 and beyond.
The City of Port Phillip is recommending to continue with the St Kilda Festival in years to come after an independent study compiled by Cultural Value has found no reason for the discontinuation of the Festival and is supporting its ongoing future but there is a cost to do so.The report found that while there is a significant impact on the City there was no negative impact to outweigh the benefits.
City of Port Phillip Councillor and rock photographer Serge Thomann says that “while the event is in St Kilda, it has become a major event for Melbourne and Victoria.”
“The staging of the St Kilda Festival makes the cultural backdrop of St Kilda Beach one of Australia’s most visually impressive music festivals. We celebrate music but also beach culture,” Councillor Thomann tells Undercover News.
“As a music festival as well as a cultural festival, St Kilda Festival is also an important event for Australian musicians, especially young musicians, he adds.
The issues the Port Phillip Council faces is one of costs. The operation is funded by the council and sponsorships and a token amount from state government but the event itself has become an important Melbourne and Victorian event. “Because of the size of the St Kilda Festival and its costs to the St Kilda community, new funding models should be explored, suggests Cr Thomann. “I really think that the Victorian State Government should be showing its full support to this major by contributing much more funding for it.”
The Port Phillip Council is urging St Kilda Festival lovers and artists to tell them what they want. Deadline: 10 May.
Have your say. Visit portphillip.vic.gov.au/festivalreview
