Don’t mention the B-word in Brexit festival
Organisers ditch original title for celebration of exiting the EU to convey message of unity and hope
THE “Festival of Brexit” was billed as a celebration of the UK’S bright future outside the European Union, but it has been labelled “meaningless” after official branding failed to mention the word “Brexit”.
The £120 million celebration of Brexit, first announced in 2018, was known in official circles by the working title of “Festival UK 2022”, and has now conclusively distanced itself from all links to Britain’s exit from the EU.
The nationwide arts programme to take place next year will be known simply as “Unboxed”, following PR work to convey the project’s vision of being “open, original and optimistic”.
What was once hailed by some as a celebration of Brexit will feature 10 projects, including a decommissioned oil rig being placed in a former lido in Weston-super-mare, and a television drama set in a near-future Wales which could be independent from the UK.
Craig Mackinlay, one of the original 28 “Spartan” Tory MPS who voted against attempts by Theresa May to deliver a softer Brexit, said: “What could have been a great celebration of global Britain post-brexit has now been Whitehall sanitised down into something anodyne and meaningless – it is a great opportunity missed.”
David Jones, Tory MP for Clwyd West, said he was “shocked” that it seemed Brexit had been airbrushed from the celebration of the UK.
He said: “Brexit is the rebirth of the UK as an independent nation. It is something that we should be celebrating and this is a huge opportunity to do so. I very much hope that reference to Brexit will be made in future.
“A lot of colleagues will wish to take this up with new Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.”
Marcus Fysh, MP for Yeovil, added: “Reclaiming the freedom for our and future generations to make our own law was the main purpose of Brexit ... it is absolutely to be celebrated but, more importantly, it must also be used for the UK to rise to significant challenges.”
A source close to Ms Dorries said: “The festival is designed to bring people together to celebrate 2022 – the Commonwealth Games and Platinum Jubilee – and the huge creative talent that is spread across the UK.”
A spokesman for Unboxed said the title “Festival UK 2022” was always intended to be replaced.
Unboxed projects make no reference to Brexit but Martin Green, the chief creative officer, said the 10 commissions will “explore ideas that will define our futures”.
The Welsh project, Galwad, is canvassing people across the principality to help devise a future that is not necessarily “utopian” which will include a television drama and live performances, with independence and the climate crisis potentially factored into a fictional world.
The project Storytrails will use augmented reality and 3D technology to “reignite people’s pride and passion for their hometown” by bringing the past to life digitally.
Stories that will be explored in these digital displays include those from “marginalised communities alongside stories of celebration, LGBTQ+, environment, class, health, work and technology, race and migration”.
Other works to be rolled out across the UK include “Polinations”, highlighting the UK’S multiculturalism by explaining the international origins of the country’s plants with the help of man-made forest installations in Birmingham and Edinburgh.
The Government gave its support to the project in 2019. It was quickly dubbed the Festival of Brexit, in particular by Jacob Rees-mogg, echoing the Festival of Britain back in 1951.