Culture:‘ Time for festival to go own way’

The AIYF decision has caused controversy around the north-east and beyond.

But some have also praised the decision as a way for the festival to “stand on its own two feet” as the local authority faces £125million of cuts over five years. Dame Evelyn Glennie said: “This festival has profoundly influenced me as a musician and human being, allowing me to meet and perform with a myriad of international youngsters.

“I sincerely hope there’s still time to revise this decision so that we may allow the festival to continue inspiring young musicians, as it did with me and countless others.”

Julian Lloyd Webber said: “A nation is defined by its culture – and culture is the best way of bringing people together.

“The city should be investing in its young talent and this short-sighted decision would be sending out a very negative message.”

AIYF staff member Ben Smith added: “It was through AIYF that I decided I wanted to pursue a career in theatre. “This festival is unique. There isn’t another like it in the world.”

But former council finance convener Willie Young said: “It’s always easy to be critical of the council making a difficult decision. However, I believe the decision may actually be one of the best things that could happen to the AIYF because the festival now needs to stand on its own two feet and show the world that it can operate without council finance or direction.” Education vice-convener Lesley Dunbar said: “The proposals from the administration received crossparty backing. What we’re doing here isn’t a political point. It’s recognising that the public want funding for young people to be spent on young people themselves.”