DEFEND HORSHAM FOLK ARTS CENTRE
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Messages of Support

Email your messages of support to: martin@martin-jeremiah.co.uk

From Steve Heap, Director of Folk Arts England

Dear Elizabeth Kitchen,

I hear from my friend and colleague, Martin Jeremiah, that there is some doubt as to whether the Council wish to support the potential of Horsham Folk Arts Centre.

May I encourage you and the Council to give full support to the idea and recognise that Martin Jeremiah is well respected as a very hard working folk enthusiast and promoter within the national folk scene.

At this time, folk music and the traditions of England have never been so well recognised. Throughout the national press and broadcast media, folk music is riding on the crest of a wave. What a perfect time for Horsham to stand out amongst many and have its own folk arts performance space.

I would encourage you to support his finance assessment and business plan and be the Council that lead the way in supporting the traditions of England.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Heap

From Dr. Anthony Allen – South East Folk Arts Network

Dear Elizabeth,

We learn with some concern that Horsham District Council are reconsidering their excellent proposal for a Folk Arts Centre based in the Old Town Hall.

The proposed use as a Folk Arts Centre had enormous potential as a focal point for tourism, and an associated Festival would have turned the town into a centre of excellence in the multi-million pound folk arts industry (Arts Council and AFO report, "A report into the Impact of Folk Festivals on Cultural Tourism").

It is hard to envisage an alternative use that is likely to have anywhere near as much impact on the economic development of the district.

This is an opportunity not only to build on the district's own unique place in our cultural history, but also to draw down national funding for heritage development.

Best regards,

Dr. Anthony Allen

From Pete Coe, Backshift Music

Dear Elizabeth Kitchen,

I would like to support the campaign to convert Horsham Old Town Hall into a Folk Arts Centre. I attended a recent Association of Folk Festival Organisers & was present at Martin Jeremiah's impressive presentation.

Festival & Folk Project organisers from all over the country were also present & enthusiastic about the potential of such a centre dedicated to a wide range of Folk Arts, enabling local involvement, developing local skills enhanced by visiting professional practitioners. Many of the latter have offered their services for reasonable expenses to help launch & maintain this project.

In addition to important cultural benefits across a wide age range the economic benefits in the long term must be considered by Horsham Council. As a festival & Folk Arts organiser myself, here in West Yorkshire, I have seen the economic benefits generated by visitors to the area at festivals & venues with regular events. As a professional touring musician for 35 years I have seen many other instances at home & abroad where Folk Arts events have proved successful in the long term. It's no coincidence that the largest Folk Festival in the country, Cambridge, is actually run by the city council & that one of the most recent smaller, but very successful festivals, Cheltenham, is funded & run from the Town Hall, its main venue. However, whilst one off events can be very successful & seize the headlines (Cheltenham Folk Festival was recorded for BBC World earlier this year), there's no doubt that regular events & projects are the building blocks. I would also draw your attention to the Folk Arts contribution made to the Sage in Gateshead. I have great confidence in Martin Jeremiah & his team & that they are well qualified to make this Folk Arts Project a great success, especially in the long term. They have my support & the support of many touring musicians too.

- Pete Coe, Backshift Music

01/08/06

"We continue to hold the view that a decent centre for Folk Arts in Horsham would be an enormous benefit to the community and would be a focus for the ongoing development of folk in this country. There is increasing interest in folk music and dance amongst young people, and a well-established community of interested people amongst the older generations. Another restaurant in the town will add nothing new to the facilities already available.

Please give your support to the use of the the Old Town Hall for a Folk Arts Centre."

- Carol and Erling Hagland

Email your messages of support to: martin@martin-jeremiah.co.uk

- PLEASE SIGN THE ON-LINE PETITION : CLICK HERE -