Is Boris going to stop our festivals?

[smokedout]

I've just spoken to the events team at the GLA to try and confirm dates for some of this years london festys.

Specifically I asked whether they could confirm the date of July 13th for the Rise Festival.

He told me that that was the date planned however he couldnt confirm whether that was still the case.

I asked him if he could confirm that the usual events would be going ahead and he told me that they didn't know and they wouldn't be announcing anything until the new administration settles down.

I asked when that would be and he said he didnt know.

 

[toblerone3]

Have you heard anything to suggest that might cancel festivals?

 

[smokedout]

well only that july 13th was a confirmed date prior to the election and now they cant confirm anything

and its less than 2 months away

 

[Dask]

I really hope Boris allows these to continue.

 

[Mapped]

We will find out on 21st May at Mayor's Question Time, as he's been directly asked by the London Assembly

Support for Mayor’s Festivals
Question No: 967 / 2008
Jennette Arnold
In light of the popularity of the Mayor’s Festivals, such as Rise, Big Dance, Thames Festival etc, can the Mayor confirm that he will continue to support and even expand such events?

from here: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/assemmtgs/2008/mqtmay21/item04.pdf

 

[ajdown]

and an official St George's Day festival?

 

[Prince Rhyus]

According to the "cut-and-paste-papers" the free festivals that promote "politically correct" causes are the ones likely for the chop.

 

[DotCommunist]

and an official St George's Day festival?

a nationalist as well eh?

so you think livingstone 'pandered to minorities' and you want a St.Georges day festival. Alarm bells are ringing chum.

 

[ajdown]

a nationalist as well eh?

so you think livingstone 'pandered to minorities' and you want a St.Georges day festival. Alarm bells are ringing chum.

How can a day to recognise England, in England, be a problem - or a minority event? Good grief.

 

[smokedout]

According to the "cut-and-paste-papers" the free festivals that promote "politically correct" causes are the ones likely for the chop.

I'm guessing Rise is likely to go, which is the best

the guy at the events office was a nice bloke but i got the impression he really didnt want to answer my questions

bit of a weird one though, the thought of Boris hosting an anti-racism festival

but then if it doesnt happen he might be accused of racism

 

[Kid_Eternity]

I've just spoken to the events team at the GLA to try and confirm dates for some of this years london festys.

Specifically I asked whether they could confirm the date of July 13th for the Rise Festival.

He told me that that was the date planned however he couldnt confirm whether that was still the case.

I asked him if he could confirm that the usual events would be going ahead and he told me that they didn't know and they wouldn't be announcing anything until the new administration settles down.

I asked when that would be and he said he didnt know.

I heard all the work is in place for Rise but you know Boris said he'd keep them all just like he said he'd have an amnesty for illegal immigrants; that has been quietly dropped under orders from his advisers (which means Conservative HQ).

That said race/ethnic stuff etc is a real Achilles heal for him and his team are acutely sensitive to that so if a big enough stink is made maybe it'll be ok purely because the political calculation of bad polls?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

How can a day to recognise England, in England, be a problem - or a minority event? Good grief.

What exactly does one do on St George's Day? Is Carling on special offer in the pub?

Fucking idiotic premise anyway - you do know who St George was, don't you? What the fuck do you want to celebrate him for?

 

[miss giggles]

What exactly does one do on St George's Day? Is Carling on special offer in the pub?

Fucking idiotic premise anyway - you do know who St George was, don't you? What the fuck do you want to celebrate him for?

actually, I don't know, but I'd love you to tell me.

 

[ajdown]

What exactly does one do on St George's Day? Is Carling on special offer in the pub?

Fucking idiotic premise anyway - you do know who St George was, don't you? What the fuck do you want to celebrate him for?

It doesn't matter what the history you might think the day has... it's England's national day.

If we have an official St Patricks day festival, and all the various religious festivals, partys, free someone, save something, eat more chips whatever festivals then we have room for one day where we can celebrate being English.

It's not racist, by any stretch of the imagination. If other cultures can be 'proud of their heritage' why can't the English?

I propose a day of Morris Dancing in Trafalgar Square.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I If other cultures can be 'proud of their heritage' why can't the English?

I propose a day of Morris Dancing in Trafalgar Square.

I believe your last sentence somewhat undermines the one before it.

 

[Mr T]

the free papers today suggested that all the festivals were under review by a new arts advisor - a 30 year old muslim woman who is apparantly fed up of box ticking at the expense of quality

of course on his first day as mayor boris went to the sikh new year festival in traf square and was directly asked if he planned to scrap them and he said of course not he thought it was one of the best things ken had done!

personally i thought the st george's day festival held last year - a showing of monty python and a comedy singalong world record attempt at being a coconut orchestra - was a brilliant idea, as it meant that my mates who feel some need to celebrate it got to do so, while i could go and have a laugh and get pissed and not feel uncomfortable about all the boneheads who might have been attracted to a march/parade or something.

 

[smokedout]

It doesn't matter what the history you might think the day has... it's England's national day.

If we have an official St Patricks day festival, and all the various religious festivals, partys, free someone, save something, eat more chips whatever festivals then we have room for one day where we can celebrate being English.

It's not racist, by any stretch of the imagination. If other cultures can be 'proud of their heritage' why can't the English?

I propose a day of Morris Dancing in Trafalgar Square.

there was a St Georges day event you fucking muppet

 

[ajdown]

i could go and have a laugh and get pissed and not feel uncomfortable about all the boneheads who might have been attracted to a march/parade or something.

So every other march/parade is ok, but you would consider a 'celebrate English' festival wrong?

 

[twistedAM]

What exactly does one do on St George's Day? Is Carling on special offer in the pub?

Fucking idiotic premise anyway - you do know who St George was, don't you? What the fuck do you want to celebrate him for?

Carling isn't even English!

He is the patron saint of: Catalonia, England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia

 

[smokedout]

article here

Since graduating in 1999, Ms Mirza worked for a range of think tank and charity organisations, including the Royal Society of Arts and the independent think tank Policy Exchange. She has taught at the University of Kent and University of East London. In 2004 she completed her MA in Social Research and is working on a PhD at the University of Kent, examining developments in UK cultural policy and multiculturalism.

so no experience at all of holding events then

 

[ajdown]

there was a St Georges day event you fucking muppet

Well a) it wasn't advertised very well because I don't remember seeing anything - and it wasn't that long ago; and b) how the fuck does 'street theatre' show Englishness? "Whalley Range All Star’s animated compost heap"????

It must have been put together by Ken and a bunch of loony lefties who have absolutely no clue what it's like to be English.

 

[ajdown]

Carling isn't even English!

He is the patron saint of: Catalonia, England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia

Your point being?

 

[twistedAM]

Your point being?

does there have to be a point?

 

[RedRumsBum]

a nationalist as well eh?

so you think livingstone 'pandered to minorities' and you want a St.Georges day festival. Alarm bells are ringing chum.

What is so fucking nationalist about wanting St George's day to top everything else? Jesus fucking Christ. You're so insecure and scared that people will suddenly become BNP shocktroopers after getting drunk and high on national pride for one day of the year! But hey, let's all save the celebrations for the day after the big revolution comrade! It's what the masses really want!

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Well a) it wasn't advertised very well because I don't remember seeing anything - and it wasn't that long ago; and b) how the fuck does 'street theatre' show Englishness? "Whalley Range All Star’s animated compost heap"????

It must have been put together by Ken and a bunch of loony lefties who have absolutely no clue what it's like to be English.

Anyone who is born in and lives in England is English, so presumably they know what it is like to be English.

Theatre has been performed on English streets for hundreds of years. You sound like a bigot, mate.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

I propose a day of Morris Dancing in Trafalgar Square.

Yeah because that's what we need a public display of how much of a fucking joke this country can be...

 

[DotCommunist]

What is so fucking nationalist about wanting St George's day to top everything else? Jesus fucking Christ. You're so insecure and scared that people will suddenly become BNP shocktroopers after getting drunk and high on national pride for one day of the year! But hey, let's all save the celebrations for the day after the big revolution comrade! It's what the masses really want!

It's pointless chest-beating pride I object to.

Nothing to do with revsoc you loon.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I would propose this as a provisional definition of a gentleman:

A man who knows how to Morris Dance...but doesn't.

 

[ajdown]

Anyone who is born in and lives in England is English, so presumably they know what it is like to be English.

Theatre has been performed on English streets for hundreds of years. You sound like a bigot, mate.

So can you explain what "Whalley Range All Star’s animated compost heap" is?

Many people of other cultures retain their cultural identity, and think of themselves as whatever first, British second, and then only because they happen to be living here.

You might also want to check your dictionary: "A bigot is a prejudiced person who is intolerant of opinions, lifestyles, or identities differing from his or her own." Now, if I had said that every other festival should be scrapped and only a St George's Day celebrated, you'd have a point. I never did. I simply asked that, if everyone else can have 'their day', why can't those that like to consider themselves English?

Heck, there's a 'Gay Pride' day... when was the last time someone organised a 'straight pride' day? You can't, because of all this PC bollocks that the loony lefties have polluted everything with - and that's the same reason people shy away from celebrating anything English.

 

[RedRumsBum]

Anyone who is born in and lives in England is English, so presumably they know what it is like to be English.

Theatre has been performed on English streets for hundreds of years. You sound like a bigot, mate.

People have been mugging each other in the streets for hundreds of years, so fucking what.

I hate this insecure red shite when it comes to St Georges day. People naturally want the event to be bigger and better every year. It's that simple.