Firms should 'step up' as festival cut to one week

Businesses in Guernsey have been encouraged to "step up" and sponsor community events - as one island festival says it is feeling the effects of financial pressures.

The Guernsey Street Festival is to be shortened from a fortnight to one week this August, with organisers blaming a reduced amount of sponsorship and lack of volunteers.

The festival was founded in 2015 and takes place around the streets of St Peter Port.

Deputy Andy Cameron, vice president of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture, told BBC Radio Guernsey all charities were "struggling for cash," but "the States can't look at paying them the full amount they actually require". He added: "We need these businesses to step up more than ever."

The festival's founder Claire Dawson said the decision to shorten the event was "unanimous across the committee" but believes they will "still put on an impactful festival for everyone on the island to enjoy".

Last week, organisers of Liberation Day called for more financial support from businesses.

Meanwhile, Cameron said he hoped to encourage firms to help out local charities and organisations who put on community events.

During a States sitting, he asked the government's senior committee, Policy and Resources (P&R), if it would consider "a formal States-based recognition of businesses that fulfil corporate social responsibilities" through sponsorship or volunteering.

He told BBC Radio Guernsey that with States finances under extreme pressure, the island was at risk of losing some community events or having them further scaled back.

Louise Le Pelley, of Partnership and Developments at Guernsey Arts, said sponsors were pulling out of long-term partnerships because budgets were getting tighter for businesses.

She said she would like to see firms "matched-up" with charities to help each other out.

"It means we have to keep innovating and finding ways to reach out to people."

Organisers of the Guernsey Street Festival said they would be working on a revised schedule for the 2026 event, but said its other fixtures, like the weekly summer Candie Concerts, would remain unchanged.

Dawson explained: "Unfortunately, the reduced level of funding and shortage of volunteers has meant a two-week festival is not viable this year."

She added: "While regrettable, we believe we can still put on an impactful festival for everyone in the island to enjoy, as we continue to support local artists by providing them with a public platform and a fair wage for their performances."

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.