Published at 13:09, Wednesday, 25 June 2008

If you have ever wondered just how the festival came about and why it is has proved to be such a success then look no further.

The first festival was organised by Maryport Developments Ltd, (MDL) a “regeneration company” and funded by EU regeneration grants. MDL, in turn, sub-contracted the promotion and organization of the festival itself to a specialist blues music agency, Albion Management Ltd. Allerdale Borough Council also played an important role, through the Arts and Entertainment personnel and other relevant personnel from other relevant departments.

MDL worked with Albion Management for three years to deliver the annual blues festival, with MDL providing funding and administrative support and the latter the agency skills. In 2002, following the retirement of Albion Management proprietors. another agency, BCM Promotions Ltd, was contracted to deliver the festival.

From the outset, the festival has been supported by volunteers, initially working as stewards, but years on year, volunteers carried out more and more of the tasks associated with the logistics, sourcing, securing funding and publicity of the festival, which were in the early years the responsibility of MDL and the agency. These changes happened by chance rather than any scheme or plan by MDL, the agency or the volunteers. The main driver was the enthusiasm of the volunteers for the music, the festival and Maryport and their desire to see its continued growth and success.

By 2003, the EU pot of regeneration funding was coming to an end and the future of the MDL organization was uncertain, with the consequence of that the annual blues festival would come to an end. By this time, the volunteers were the players in the organization, management and delivery of the festival, attending all meetings and working closely with MDL, Allerdale Borough Council and the Allerdale based Regeneration company.

The Regeneration Company and Allerdale, took an imitative to set up an independent organization to run the festival, which the aim of stimulating a change in the festival organization from a government funded and organised event to a commercial event, with much reduced government funding and support, if any.

A company, Maryport festivals Ltd, was incorporated on May 28th 2003, with the key festival volunteers taking up the positions of directors in the newly formed company. No director’s positions are filled by any employees of MDL, Allerdale or other local government organisations.

Seven directors were appointed on incorporation and six if these directors remain.

It is clearly stated in our Memorandum of Association that all company income and profits shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives of the company and none shall be paid in any form to directors of the Company. It is a core philosophy that the company should remain a volunteer run organisation, who only buy-in products and services from other individuals and organisations, as and when necessary.

The company has built up a significant body of volunteers who freely give their time and skills in the run up to and during a festival. For example, during the festival, we estimate we have 130 volunteers, working a total of 5,000 hours over the weekend. In addition, we have some specialist volunteers and volunteers who work with on the festival all year round.

2005 was a milestone year, with all of the festival organization, management and promotion undertaken by Maryport Festivals Ltd. A specialist blues music agency is contracted to programme the festival and manage artists’ contracts, fees, work permits and to support promotional activities. In 2002 to 2005, the festival used BCM Promotions Ltd and in 2006, Rock Artist Managements but moved in 2007, to specialist blues music agents, MovinMusic, who will be programming the 2008 and future festivals.

Published by http://www.maryportlocal.co.uk