AN ambitious arts project planned to mark the end of The Bowes Museum’s 125th anniversary has been thrown into doubt after Barnard Castle town councillors dramatically withdrew an offer of £2,000 to help fund the event.
At a special town council meeting, members voted 6-2 in favour of a proposal from Cllr John Blissett not to support the music and dance event, dubbed Fishdance.
Museum officials say the future of Fishdance – which is due to coincide with Meet weekend – now relies on the success of other funding applications. The initial idea was a parade of children dressed as fish in honour of the museum’s silver swan.
The event is being led by the recently-launched Centre for Craft at The Bowes Museum and also involves The Hub and The Witham. The total cost of producing and staging Fishdance is £9,000.
When cash was set aside in the council’s 2017/18 budget to fund an event in The Bowes Museum’s 125th anniversary year, the main proviso laid down by members was that community involvement would be key.
Councillors voiced a number of concerns about how the event would involve the community.
Cllr Judi Sutherland said: “I have mixed feelings about it. I don’t see The Bowes Museum grasping what we meant by community involvement.
“I am not sure we are going to get any better response than what we have had. If we want an event, this might be the only way we are going to get one. It has not been straightforward.”
Cllr Kelly Blissett pointed out that many community groups would already be taking part in the Meet parade.
She asked: “What input are they going to have in this?”
Cllr Rima Chatterjee said she was concerned Fishdance might detract from the Meet parade.
“They have not told us exactly what they are planning. The idea should be to complement the Meet parade, not take away from it.”
Cllr Mark Wilkes added: “I just think their perception is the Hub and The Witham as community. Well, it’s not.”
Cllr Ian Kirkbride said the lack of a steering group to organise Fishdance was a worry.
“Several of us signalled an interest in this group, but that intent to hold a steering group meeting has not materialised.”
It is the second time members have snubbed efforts to celebrate the 125th anniversary after deciding not to give cash to the museum-led Barnard Castle Christmas Festival in December.
Cllr John Blissett said the council had resolved not to fund a light installation as part of the festival and now the museum was looking for money for a similar project.
“I feel it does not encapsulate what we want for the community,” he said.
Cllr Blissett said he felt Fishdance was “piggy backing” on the Meet, was not feasible and would leave people feeling confused.
“We, as a council, are responsible for spending money wisely and for the benefit of the community,” he said.
He proposed the town council should rescind its offer of £2,000. This was seconded by Cllr Frank Harrison and carried 6-2.
Cllr Blissett further proposed that the council set up its own working group with the Friends of The Bowes Museum and other groups in the town to organise an event of their own.
The vote was split 4-4. Cllr Moorhouse, who had declared an interest due to her role with the friends, was unable to cast a deciding vote.
She stood down from the chair and deputy mayor Cllr Roger Peat took over.
He called for a second vote which went 5-4 against Cllr Blissett’s proposal.
After the meeting, Richard Welsby, head of finance at The Bowes Museum, said: “We are disappointed to hear the town council did not approve the recommendation of their partnership committee to contribute to the Fishdance community workshops and performance planned to mark the end of our anniversary year celebrations.
“We will hear within the next two weeks whether other funding applications are successful and will make a decision then whether this project will go ahead.
“The loss of the contribution from the town council may mean we have to scale back a small element of the activity, but will not in itself jeopardise the project taking place.”
