Winter Droving 2024 - the facts
We are trying to raise funds in order to make sure that the Droving can continue after 2024. We have committed to 2024 but beyond that is not viable with the current level of loss.
The bottom line is this is a free event, costs go up, the funding hasn't. So if all or some of the thousands who come along each year can pop a few quid in then all will be fine.
Why is this suddenly a problem?
It isn’t sudden. Costs began to outweigh the money available in 2018. However, we were able to work through the next few years due to the pandemic and some additional funding from the government’s culture recovery grant.
But what is the big problem in 2024?
- Costs keep going up and we requested that Westmorland and Furness Council increase the amount that the former Eden District Council used to invest in the Winter Droving. Our request was for an increase from the former’s £15k to at least a new level of £20k.
- Rather than increase the Winter Droving funding the new council have chosen to reduce funding. They have reduced the funding from £15k to £5k – thus increasing the financial difficulty.
How much is the deficit?
As of the 26 June (when the council emailed to say that there would be no Winter Droving funding) the event was forecasting a massive £35,000 loss. Since then the Herald have stepped in with £15k and we have started the crowdfunder. Title sponsor, The Leo Group, and our partners the idol.com, Ast Signs and the Penrith Chamber of Trade and Commerce have generously pledged funds to our crowdfunder that can be unlocked if we can encourage members of the public to chip in. If we can raise £10k from the public we will still lose £10k this year.
Couldn’t you have avoided this situation?
We wanted clarity about council funding in early 2024. If we had known then that there wouldn't be the traditional level of council funding and that we would be facing such a massive loss we would have rather cancelled this year’s event at that time. Unfortunately, we were led to believe that the council would not only fund the Droving but that there would be an uplift.
What does the future hold for the Winter Droving?
It is unclear. Eden Arts can not continue to make a loss as Eden Arts is a charity.
Don’t you make money out of the Droving?
We have seen this suggested and it is the opposite of the case!
I’ve seen it written that the Droving makes £2m for the area?
We survey the audience to ask how much they have spent on the Droving and on what. People buy products, food, stay in accommodation, go to the pubs, go to restaurants, these are just some of the ways that the Droving generates a boost in the local economy.
Any more questions?
Ask away!! The Droving is organised for Penrith by local charity Eden Arts, an open and inclusive organisation happy to answer any questions if possible.