Chichester City Council has been a fabulous supporter of the Festival right from the start
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00:00Good afternoon. My name is Phil Hewitt, Group Arts Editor at Sussex Newspapers and also
00:06Chairman of the Festival of Chichester. And as Chairman, it's really lovely to get the
00:11chance to speak to Sam Tate, who is the town clerk with Chichester City Council. Really,
00:17just to say a heartfelt thank you. The fact is the City Council have been fabulous to
00:22the Festival of Chichester right from the very start. Our first ever meeting to see
00:27whether there was any desire to set up a new festival in Chichester was in the Council
00:33Chamber. And ever since then, the City Council have been incredibly kind to us year after
00:39year. It's like you absolutely understand why we do what we do. You support our aims and
00:46you make them possible in terms of encouragement, but also financially. We are in the second
00:53year with the three year funding agreement from the City Council. And that funding that
00:58you as a City Council extend to the Festival of Chichester can't tell you how much difference
01:03it makes. It gives us confidence. It allows us to plan. It's absolutely fundamental. Your
01:09support as a City Council for the Festival of Chichester is phenomenal. And we are extremely
01:15grateful for it. Thank you.
01:21You are most welcome, Phil. I think from the City Council's point of view, you know, one of
01:26the things that we really try and do at all times is to support the grassroots arts scene
01:34in the city. And the festival is absolutely central to that. You know, it provides that opportunity
01:41for groups to put on shows, put on exhibitions, performances. And, you know, again, you underpin
01:51so much of the arts activity in the city. And you help us deliver so many of our priorities
01:59that it's a pleasure to work with you guys. And, you know, we're always happy to help and support.
02:03That's extremely kind to say. And I think the point is that we have broadly similar aims,
02:08don't we? The Festival and the City Council are both about sort of strengthening communities,
02:13bringing people together, enabling people to work together, perhaps people who wouldn't
02:17otherwise work together. And that's the fun, isn't it? That's the pleasure.
02:24Absolutely. Absolutely. A long way to continue.
02:27Brilliant. Well, we're just about to start the festival. Sam, huge thanks for all your support
02:34right from the start across our 13 years or so, so far. Thank you ever so much indeed.