Funding set to be approved for special Perth Festival of the Arts line-up

Jan 26 2010 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

COUNCILLORS will be asked tomorrow (Wednesday) to approve an application from Perth Festival of the Arts for funding worth £23,500.

May’s extravaganza promises a varied programme appealing to a broad range of tastes and will form an important component of this year’s Perth 800 celebrations.

The critically-acclaimed festival has shown a growth in ticket sales in recent years, and expects around 500 performers and 12,000 event-goers.

This year’s line-up includes the Halle Orchestra with Alison Balsom and Edward Gardner, Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Don McLean and Michael Marra, while comedy acts are still to be confirmed.

To mark Perth 800 this year’s festival will feature a special gala concert by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra with acclaimed soprano Barbara Bonney and conductor Sir Andrew Davies.

Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee convener John Kellas praised the funding bid yesterday.

“Perth Festival of the Arts has been one of Scotland’s leading arts events for the past 39 years,” he said.

“During that time it has attracted many thousands of visitors to the area as well as a host of top international acts.

“It is only right that the event receives the support of the council.”

An economic impact study carried out in 2007 showed PFA generated an additional £300,000 for the local economy.