Festival producer, The Stables, has been awarded just over £400,000 for each festival by Arts Council England and has secured a commitment of £100,000 from Milton Keynes Council for IF:2012. This financial backing will underpin the Festival’s ambition to become a biennial landmark event in the UK arts calendar. IF:2012 will present 10 amazing days of a world-class multi-arts programme in Milton Keynes between Friday 20 and Sunday 29 July 2012.
The pilot 2010 Festival was produced in response to Arts Council England’s ambition to help develop the artistic infrastructure in Milton Keynes, with the funding awarded acting as a catalyst to draw in a range of other public and private sector partners. The resulting festival achieved great public and media acclaim, reached an audience in excess of 90,000 and delivered over £4.5 million of economic benefit for the Milton Keynes area.
Festival Director and Chief Executive of The Stables, Monica Ferguson, said:
“We are delighted that Arts Council England and Milton Keynes Council have recognised the significant impact that IF:2010 had in Milton Keynes and beyond, and have recognised the opportunity the Festival presents by investing in its future. The funding will enable us to commit to a programme of UK premieres, new commissions and rare appearances by world-class artists who will engage in new ways with existing and new audiences, whilst helping to build one of the UK’s fastest growing towns into an international city.”
Sally Abbott, Regional Director of Arts Council England, said:
“It is with great pleasure that Arts Council England is able to support IF: Milton Keynes International Festival. Festivals should always be about bringing together the best artists for the biggest audiences possible with the broader cultural sector – and all in the most imaginative way. With the support of everybody in Milton Keynes, and all the local organisations and stakeholders, I have no doubt that IF:2012 will build on the extraordinary achievements of the first festival and on the sense of community pride it created. The event will help engage and inspire new audiences in Milton Keynes and be of great economic and cultural benefit to the area.”
David Hill, Chief Executive of Milton Keynes Council, said:
“The success of IF:Milton Keynes International Festival in 2010 was another example of how, by working together and being ambitious, Milton Keynes can continue to grow into one of the UK’s most innovative and exciting places to live, work and visit. Milton Keynes Council recognises the value and importance of cultural investment to support the economic and community development of the area, and we are delighted to join Arts Council England as Festival Partners for IF:2012.”
Bill Gee, Creative Producer in 2010, returns for 2012 and has already begun work on shaping the programme which will be inspired by the London 2012 Olympics and which will engage people with music and sound in surprising ways.
IF:Milton Keynes International Festival: www.ifmiltonkeynes.org
