FEBRUARY | AGENDA
Industry views
Lyn Garner, chief
executive of the
London Legacy
Development
Corporation:
“She’s one of the biggest
stars in the world and
her songs are absolutely
amazing. We’re so
delighted.”
‘Brexit Festival’ fears challenged
The director of Festival 2022,
dubbed the ‘Brexit Festival’, has
challenged the cynicism directed
towards the event.
Martin Green, formerly in
charge of the Olympic ceremonies
and Hull’s year as UK City of
Culture, told The Independent
that the event aims to bring
the nation together, showcase
British creativity, and on a basic
level bring some “joy, hope and
happiness”.
The £120m nationwide
celebration, planned for 2022, was
announced by then PM Theresa
May in May 2018 and given the
go-ahead by PM Boris Johnson
last year.
“There is obviously a big
narrative going on around healing
and coming together,” he said.
“There is no doubt that money has
been made available because this
country is exiting the European
Union, there is no getting away
from that.
“There is also no doubt that we
have been through a particularly
divisive time in the discourse
of our daily lives, and as we go
forward, let’s see how the great
creativity and ingenuity of the UK
can help re-find that common
ground.
The festival will take place
in a busy year for Britain. It will
be the Queen’s platinum (70th)
jubilee and the BBC’s centenary,
and the Edinburgh international
festival will be 75. There will also
be the Commonwealth Games in
Birmingham, for which Green is
chief creative officer.
“London Stadium’s
versatility means we
can attract events such
as the World Athletics
Championships and
Major League Baseball
which bring thousands
of visitors – many
travelling from around
the World – and
millions of pounds into
the economy.
Glastonbury
founder Michael
Eavis on his latest
headliner, Taylor
Swift:
The Vintage Sixties
Festival project
“In 2019 the arrival of
hundreds of scooters
on the promenade was
an awesome sight and
we are expecting their
return alongside other
classic vehicles from
the era, creating a real
air of nostalgia”
manager Deb Lewis
on the festival’s
return:
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