A popular summer festival, which traditionally takes place over a week in June, has been forced to scale back to a weekend-only event due to a shortage of funding.
Dundee WestFest had previously involved a series of events including talks, art exhibitions, fashion shows, film screenings and musical events, but will now only take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8.
The highlight of the festival, Big Sunday, a free live-open air event held at Magdalen Green, has been preserved and will feature some of Dundee’s best bands on the Rocktalk stage, along with a host of other entertainments and stalls.
A couple of other events are scheduled for the previous day and there will be a planned musical event on the Saturday night.
Festival chairwoman Paola McLure said: “We are disappointed to have been unsuccessful in funding bids and therefore unable to offer a week-long programme, particularly after the great reception events like our vintage fashion show received last year.
“We hope this is for one year only and that we will find funding avenues for future WestFests and, of course, we’d like to thank all the local businesses and individuals who give their services or donate very generously to help us put the festival on.
“Dundee City Council, The Courier, Red Pepper Events, people like Jimmy Marr of the Taybridge Bar and Scott from Clark’s all help us greatly, and it is much appreciated. It’s important to us that we keep Big Sunday as a free event for all to enjoy despite infrastructure costs.
“This year, one of the things we will be introducing is an extra event marquee and a seating area with a tea and coffee outlet in our rearranged layout, plus more hands-on stuff for children and families.
“During the lead up to Big Sunday there will be a prize treasure hunt game with points to collect at various venues throughout the West End with the winner announced on Big Sunday.
“There will be all the usual arts and crafts as well as a marquee devoted to vintage fashion, accessories and knick-knacks, and lots of community and charity groups raising their own money through craft sales, plant stalls, tombolas and games.
“Sports activity will include korfball (mixed gender team game) and the Historical Martial Arts Society. Toilet facilities will also be hugely improved, which everyone will be very glad to hear.”
WestFest 2011 was the scene of the city’s proud world record for the biggest piggyback race at the time, when 320 people crossed the finishing line at Big Sunday, giving Dundee a new official Guinness World Record until it was beaten by Bishop England High School in South Carolina with 388 participants.
West End councillor Fraser Macpherson said: “Obviously it’s disappointing that the funding isn’t in place to have a week-long series of events.
“There are always challenges for charity groups in terms of funding and I know how much time and effort has gone into trying to achieve the necessary finance.
“However, it’s very positive that there will be a WestFest 2014 with the fantastic event that is Big Sunday which the west end people have fully embraced, so I am delighted with that.”
Fellow ward councillor Richard McCready said: “I’m obviously looking forward to WestFest this year and I’m hoping it’s as successful as ever.
“I’m disappointed that it’s been curtailed due to a lack of funding and I would call on businesses in the West End and beyond to help make the festival bigger and better.”