DESPITE assurances the release of the accounts for Manchester Pride 2013 have been delayed. Critics of Manchester Pride - a registered charity that organises the August Bank Holiday LGBT event - fear the figures will show a steep decline in the amount raised and released to charities. They fear the slip from a release date of Friday 8 November is questionable to say the least
“Pride has lost direction and we have little or no say in how it is run. I believe it's time for the trustees to start making room for people who are active in the gay village."
The resignation last Wednesday of Chief Executive John Stewart has incensed suspicion in the community. They believe Stewart's departure and the disappointing results are not unconnected - and that the event is becoming increasingly ineffective and losing touch - with criticisms levelled that it has become a, 'big pop concert' and, 'a gay Glastonbury'.
A protest organised by the Facebook campaign group Facts About Manchester Pride (Monday 11 November) took place at midday today outside the Portland Street offices of Pride.
Interim Director, Mark Fletcher, taking on Stewart's role, has promised changes in response to the criticisms. “We are planning a campaign to recruit trustees to strengthen the skill set of the board. We are a charity organising a festival to celebrate and campaign for the LGBT community- as well as raising money. Like many others, we’ve been hit hard by the recession. Donations have reduced and ticket sales have declined.
"We have a plan in place to review the existing event structure, identifying ways to significantly reduce costs or increase revenues without compromising quality. We aim to engage with the community by holding listening groups, the first of which will take place in January in the city centre.”
Asked about the delay in releasing this year's figures, Mr Fletcher would only comment that work was still being, 'finalised'. He declined to comment on Mr Stewart's departure or discuss any reason for it - or its timing.
Protest organisers claim their own sources show that when eventually announced, the charity amount may be the lowest since 1990 when the event was no more than a collection of market stalls and a far cry from the huge ticket only events of recent years. These have been said to draw visitor numbers of over 150,000 and see £22m of spending on events around Pride in local businesses and hotels.
Mark Fletcher says Pride has commissioned "an independent economic impact survey" in response to this estimated peripheral economy. “Once the findings have been reviewed we will be in a better place to comment”.
Mr Stewart had previously commented on the difficulties of running the event which sold 38,000 tickets this year. “Clearly, we would like to raise a substantial amount for charity every year, but have to recognise that in a challenging economic climate, attending a four day event is a considerable commitment for our patrons.”
In 2012 the registered charity raised £991,656 and gave £52,000 to good causes. Anti-Pride voices have claimed only an estimated £36,100 of the £52k was raised during the financial year and that the publicised amount had been topped up out of 'reserve' funds. Pride has confirmed this to be the case. The charity sum was, again dissenting voices pointed out, just 3.7% of the total income.
According to Pride’s own figures, charity donations have fallen from £135,000 in 2009 to £52,000 in 2012. The £52,000 raised in 2012 was split between the LGF Condom and Lube Scheme and the GHT Welfare Fund, with the remaining 50% distributed in community grants. Pride state that between 2003 and 2006 'Operation Fundraiser' raised almost half a million pounds - distributed to over eighty local LGBT and HIV groups and other charities.
Tony Cooper, manager of Via on Canal Street and former chair of the Village Business Association commented, “Pride has lost direction and we have little or no say in how it is run. I believe it's time for the trustees to start making room for people who are active in the gay village. I've had dialogue with Manchester Pride for several weeks and not seen any change. I find myself believing that they do not want to engage with the community at large and certainly not the businesses who support them to the tune of £40-60k every year”.
Geoff Stafford the co-founder of the Facebook campaign group Facts About Manchester Pride says the planned protest isn't tied to any particular group. “This feels like a turning point. We've been campaigning for two-and-a-half years. Now Pride has upset a lot of the LGBT community - from the lower paid who feel excluded by high ticket prices, to gay business owners and charity workers. In the current climate smaller charities in particular depend on this funding. We expect many of those people will join in the protest. I think the board of trustees should resign.”
Pride parade
While still CEO at Pride, John Stewart had commented, “Major festivals do not organise themselves, nor does the cost of providing entertainment on three stages and security pay for itself. The amount raised for charity is almost entirely dependent on level of tickets sales, as costs have to be covered. Once costs have been met, the entire surplus is donated to charities”.
Mark Fletcher seems less defensive than his predecessor and willing to admit that real change is long overdue. “We have started to look at ways to secure the future of the festival and help us to deliver our charitable objectives. As mentioned previously we do currently have a plan in place to review the existing event structure, and identify ways to significantly reduce costs or increase revenues without compromising the quality.
