Representatives from the Bear Creek Folk Festival appeared in City Hall on July 9th to answer questions for council’s Financial and Administrative Services Committee regarding a funding request to support additional infrastructure during the festival.
During the question-and-answer portion of their presentation, the representatives identified three key priority areas within the festival’s operations that require additional funding; fencing, power, and a new stage.
According to Folk Festival Producer, Sarah Card, Bear Creek spends around $15,000 on fuel to operate diesel-operated generators to power the festival, leading to the festival’s $282K request for an improved electrical system on festival grounds.
“The cost saving is not just financial, but we’re excited about the environmental [impacts],” she says.
When it comes to the matter of a new stage, representatives suggested that the current supplier’s contract with the festival is “unstable” in price and could lead to potentially no guarantee that next year’s event will have a stage for the show.
Taken together, between fencing, a new stage, and electrical costs, the Bear Creek Folk Festival requested nearly $1.3 million in funding from the city; however, the $282K in electrical upgrades was identified as a top priority for council so the matter is scheduled to be discussed during this year’s budget deliberations.
