Festival Refutes Entertainment Union’s Claims
The Bermuda Festival has refuted claims that they did not paid Travelers Fees for the visiting artists for this year’s 40th Festival, saying they paid “the requisite fees” and it is “unfortunate that statements such as this are made” against The Festival “whose sole mandate is to promote the performing arts in the community.”
Mr. Ian Davidson, Bermuda Festival Chairman, stated, “It was with great disappointment that we read in the January 26th edition of the Royal Gazette that the President of the Bermuda Entertainment Union [BEU] made a statement at their Special Meeting on Sunday claiming the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts had not paid Travelers Fees for the visiting artists for this year’s 40th Festival.
“Quite simply, this is not true. The Bermuda Festival paid the requisite fees to the Union’s bank account on December 9, 2014, in accordance with existing immigration policy. It is unfortunate that statements such as this are made, especially against The Festival, whose sole mandate is to promote the performing arts in the community.
“The Bermuda Festival is a not-for-profit organisation dependent on sponsors, patrons, donors and volunteers and focused on education through our extensive outreach and master class programmes. We have paid these travelers fees as required for the past several years, notwithstanding the financial challenge they present.
“Our mission is to promote the performing arts in the community, particularly with the young, because it is widely recognised internationally that exposure to the performing arts has a positive impact on the development of all, particularly youth. Each year we carefully select artists who have a strong commitment to sharing their craft through participation in our Outreach Programme. The negative references to us made by the BEU are very discouraging to all who give so freely of their time to support the Festival’s mission.
“The purpose of the Outreach Programme is to focus on teaching students of all ages about the passion and dedication involved in the performing arts. Throughout the duration of the Festival visiting performers will perform for, and work with local students. This presents an amazing opportunity for young local artists to grow in their talent and performance abilities and allows us to inspire future generations of Bermuda’s youth to pursue the arts.”
Mr. Davidson concluded by saying, “True to the original philosophy of the Founders, The Festival continues to offer a range of performances by a diverse selection of international and local artists. Initially the emphasis was on music, but over the past 40 years, we have diversified to cover the entire spectrum of the performing arts so that we provide something for every member of the community.
“Indeed, in performances just last Friday and Saturday evenings we featured two of Bermuda’s accomplished musicians participating as soloists with the world renown English Chamber Orchestra. This was in addition to over 250 resident musicians of all ages who played with the ECO in a massed orchestra on the steps of City Hall at Noon on Friday to officially open the Festival’s 40thAnniversary celebrations.
“And this weekend, Bermudian Broadway sensation Rebecca Faulkenberry will perform at the Fairmont Southampton, as well as conducting a workshop for middle and high school students.”
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A union president making dishonest statements? I’m shocked. My god, that’s like being told the earth isn’t flat.
A Bermuda Festival with only one Bermuda act. We have Jackson School of Dance, Suzette Harvey, actors and so much more so many others and bands and acts. The Festival has 40 years of ignoring Bermudians. one or two acts does not make a BERMUDA FESTIVAL. It is an international Festival that is held in Bermuda and hey have NEVER fully embraced having a BERMUDA Festival. Even YO Yo Ma would like to see some thing Bermudian.Just sayin. won’t be attending and neither will my frat brothers or Soro sisters. Just sayin’.
The festival brings world class acts to Bermuda-its not a tourist event its for us
You’re so right. To think they have the nerve to put on those foreign acts like Yo Yo Ma when we could instead be treated to the great Gene Steed and the Airport Calypso Band.
Where do you get the idea there is only one Bermudian act? That’s what the union told you? Figures.
So far there have been three performances – two last Friday, and one on Saturday. Bermudians were featured every time, playing major works of music with world class musicians. Great for them, and for the audiences.
On Friday lunchtime hundreds of schoolkids got to play at City Hall with world class musicians. For those Bermudian kids, it was a wonderful event.
Haters gotta hate I guess, even if it’s based on complete nonsense.
Got to say, even by Bermuda’s pathetic standards, that was one of the most idiotic things I have read. i think I need to drink bleach to cleanse myself of the stupid. It burns.
By the way, the Bermudians who played last weekend did so based purely on merit, not on some quota or absurd rule.
Tell that to your frat brothers.
The point is that the Union boss lied. He needs to retract his statement and apologise to the festival.
Of course he won’t cuz he probably feels he’s too good for that.
Um….international is good….we can listen and learn…I’m for diversity…..our marketability is as a brand …island…fifties sixties island enchantment…look that word enchanted up…it is a place that has a profound beauty and atmosphere condusive to majical qualities…this has to take place in order to be a memory of any significance at all at all….did you get any o’that?
The truth never interferes in a good Labour dispute.
More mess’ – does Everthing in Bermuda have to be such a big issue! – sometimes public figures just need to
Shut up
Bermuda should also restrict all television, radio and internet content to Bermuda production only.
I normally try to take in at least one event of the Bermuda Festival, but this year I could not se even on programmed event that I could support.
Unfortunately, the Festival seems not to have answered the Union’s question of not paying the requisite fees.
Again, we see Bermudians being marginalized.
Come on, Festival – pay up.
Prayerful – your comment “Unfortunately, the Festival seems not to have answered the Union’s question of not paying the requisite fees.” was in fact responded to within the Chairman’s statement included in the article.
The statement from the Bermuda Festival Chairman, Mr. Davidson said: “Quite simply, this is not true. The Bermuda Festival paid the requisite fees to the Union’s bank account on December 9, 2014, in accordance with existing immigration policy. It is unfortunate that statements such as this are made, especially against The Festival, whose sole mandate is to promote the performing arts in the community.”
It is clear that the utterances of the Union President were misleading. I am sure it is an easy matter for the BEU to check their bank account.