THE 2015 Young Entertainers in the Street Festival (YESFest) is officially on hiatus, after cuts to arts funding in this year’s Federal Budget left organisers of the popular local event high and dry.
First introduced in 2012, YESFest takes place at the Pioneer Settlement on the final night of Fairfax week and showcases the work of local performers through an interactive street festival.
The decision to suspend the 2015 event was made around four weeks ago, after a review of the Fairfax Festival budget concluded there would be a funding shortfall if the YESFest went ahead.
Swan Hill Rural City Council director of community and cultural services Bruce Myers said it was a disappointing result, but one necessary for the long term future of the Fairfax, which is now in its nineteenth year.
“The whole arts sector has changed since the federal budget,” Mr Myers said.
“The options I had as director was to make significant changes to the whole program or try and put something in place for 2015 so we can bring everything back next year.”
Fairfax Festival manager Dominique Haslam echoed Mr Myers, saying her priority was to ensure the continued longevity of the festival.
Moving forward, Ms Haslam said she will look to other avenues of support so the annual youth festival is not so heavily dependent on Commonwealth funding.
In lieu of YESFest Fairfax will return to its original format this year with a gala event at the on Thursday, September 17 and a show from X-Factor alumnus Dean Ray on September 18.
YESFest will return to the Pioneer Settlement in 2016.
For more stories pick up a copy of today’s Guardian (July 15).
