BRIGHTON PRIDE MAY DITCH DANCE TENTS

Clubland, Pride, Theatre by HOMOVISION on October 30, 2009 at 3:24 pm

Brighton Pride’s £50,000 shortfull in funding for the 2009 event may mean that it’s famous dance-tents may be ditched in favour of a more community friendly event.

Although no decisions have been made yet, Pride’s Chief Executive Leslie Burn said: “By changing the format of the park event in favour of the ‘community heart of the park’ concept we want to bring the event back to who it’s for, trying to bring everyone back together in an entertainment area where people can sit down, have a picnic, listen to live music, cabaret or choirs alongside community stalls, talks etc.”

Other proposals include cutting scrapping the Winter Pride week and withdrawing funding from community groups. The consultation and questionnaire is available on the Brighton Pride website.

Yvonne Barker, Chair of Pride in Brighton & Hove said that despite raising more in sponsorship support than in previous years, a combination of the general economic downturn, increased costs to put on the event, rising office utility costs and lower donations on the day due to the appalling weather, has resulted in the need to launch a major fund raising drive. While many enjoy Pride as a free event, it costs us more than £300,000 to stage.”

“The message is clear,” she said, “if we are unable to raise sufficient funds to cover the expected shortfall, we will need to seriously scale back next year’s Pride festivities and reduce the support we are able to give to local LGBT community groups.”

Tags: Area, Brighton, dance, economics, Famous, funding, Music, People, Pride, sponsorship, websites

Pimpernel

Well, I'm not on FB (life's too short!) but if we're all serious about keeping Brighton a FUN Pride then how about setting up the Dial-A-Donation from a mobile. £1 a time donations (not messing with 50p!!). I've no idea how to do it but I'm sure many others do. Also, Join Pride as a Member - £10 a year. Much less than a good night out!!
Lets put our money.. er... somewhere ;-}}

Jamie Hakim

For those interested, there's an interesting follow up to this story on Facebook with a new group called "SAVE BRIGHTON PRIDE AS WE KNOW IT!"

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=168761661482

There are lots of interesting comments from the group's various members.

Jamie Hakim

Brighton Pride's 2007 report: http://www.realadmin.co.uk/microdir/139/File/Pr...

Jamie Hakim

I obviously can't answer those questions Patrick (its been 5 years since I was involved in Brighton Pride) but I was a member until last year and with that came the opportunity to attend Pride's AGM, where people could ask the sort of questions you have and generally have a say in what goes on.

I think part of the problem was that most people who love going to Brighton Pride or indeed businesses who trade as part of the event (local or otherwise) never became members and therefore didn't get involved.

As far as traders on Preston Park on the day go, I'm pretty sure they just pay a fee to be there and that's it. I don't think there's any requirement to give Pride a share of their profits on the day. For starters, can you imagine auditing that?!

There's lots of information on how Brighton Pride is run on their website www.brightonrpride.org - it's well worth taking a look at. Some of the figures on the 2007 annual report might answers some of the points you raise above as far as business supporters go.....

High on Hope Guy

Hi Jamie,

Its been a while! :)

My other question related to the overall sources of income and the expenses.

If I run a loss making event the first thing I look at are the administrative costs and my own wage which in this case of Pride far exceeded the actual loss, I understand.

Obviously that is only one part of a large complicated and volatile equation.

Am sure people are interested in the wider picture:

1) overall income and its sources
2) overall expenses and their destinations

What were the figures for previous years. How are losses financed?

Local businesses contribute significantly to the event already. Or dont they?

I work with local promoters and put on an after party most years.Our partners definitely contribute to Brighton Pride, not sure how much. I dont know about the other commercial promtoers and venues.

Also without the Dance Tents and After- Parties not so many would attend Preston Park or come down to see the Parade.

What system is the burger stall and the other participants. I assume she made a profit and also contributed to the income. (At least Id hope so!).

If everyone who attended Pride this year simply sent a text costing 50p the event would have been in clear profit. With blue tooth technology and appeals for support am sure lots of people would have donated in that way.

Also I was told there were a huge number of pirates selling illegally in the park cutting into the bar takes of legitimate sponsors and franchisees.

It's a great event, my favourite and I think it would be cutting off ones nose to spite ones face to remove the dance tents which to many are the main attraction.

So many people who attended our RnB after party had never been to Brighton let alone Pride and may never have gone unless we had organised a club event after Pride.

You personally may find Preston Park hideous (in the rain its really messy!) but its popularity, as you mention, is unquestionable.

Compare to London Pride !

Hope to catch up with you soon,

Patrick

Jamie Hakim

According to accounts lodged with Companies House, Pride (South East) Limited (the registered charity which operates 'Pride in Brighton & Hove' or Brighton Pride to you and me) reported a wages bill of £86,000 during 2008. As far as I know this was for 3 full time staff - a Chief Exec, a fundraising manager and an office manager. This may seem a lot but what most people don't realise is that prior to 2006-7, the organisation was pretty much completely run by volunteers with one full time staff member & the odd part timer. As a result, the running costs published since 2007 have been distorted because they don't take the volunteer element into account. Under David Harvey's chairmanship from 2003-2066, he and several other key volunteers worked almost full-time on Brighton Pride for absolutely nothing (the organisation was on the verge of collapse when he joined the board after the 2002 event). These guys put far more in than would normally be expected from a volunteer board member and during those three years Brighton Pride grew from a relatively small event to being voted 'Best Pride' in 2003 and 2004 by Gay Times and Boyz magazines.

People have got to remember Brighton Pride is and always has been completely self funding and counts every single penny. This has always bothered me when you can plainly see how much money local businesses make over the weekend each August. A burger stall owner told me recently that she makes more money in one day at Brighton Pride than she makes in a whole month parked in Focus DIY's carpark.

As the saying goes people, you do the maths......

High on Hope Guy

I am curious to know what the wages bill for staff of Brighton Pride are and if they will be looking at reducing their own wage bills...before they consider cutting money for community support or the hugely popular dance tents including the People of Colour Tent, the Womens Tent and the Wild Fruit club dance tent.

Id be equally interested in seeing the wider picture ie the accounts for the last 3 years published online in terms of revenue generates and expenses so we can all see where the money comes from and where it goes?

We expect more from Brighton Pride than a picnic and a choir!

Brighton Pride is a wonderful event, tourist destination and a symbol of our country tolerance. With the huge increase in hate crime its important that large scale gay events combine entertainmetn and important message about gay and lesbian equality. We party with a purpose at Pride!

So Brighton lets see the accounts and lets all express an opinion on the direction to move forward..

Pimpernel

Well, for me and a great many people, the day or weekend in Brighton for Pride is spent enjoying the very welcoming Town and having a wicked party in the park (not only the Dance Tents but they are our main focus) that doesn't cost us a fortune - as the Clubs do. For me, the wet weather last time was just a minor inconvenience, thanks to the Dance Tents! I felt sorry for the Traders but one told me he'd had a very good day. People trapped in his tent!!
So, I like the present format but then, I'm not from Brighton.

Jamie Hakim

I absolutely agree. I was a volunteer on Brighton Pride's board back in 2004-5 and in my view its biggest problem is that the basic format has not changed or improved since 2003 when Pride was reorganised & basically saved under David Harvey's radical chairmanship of 2003-6.

Personally, I find the whole Preston Park event hideous - I just don't see the point of it. I say, redirect the parade to END UP on Madeira Drive followed by a community event down there with a big piss up street-party around St James's Street for the rest of the weekend. Gay pride!