Respect festival

Report: 7
Date: 31 May 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

The committee is invited to consider an invitation from the Mayor of London to participate in and contribute towards the Respect Festival which is being held on 21 July 2001.

A. Recommendation

That the committee considers whether to participate in the Respect Festival and to contribute £10,000 towards its costs.

B. Supporting information

1. The Respect Festival is being organised by the Greater London Authority (GLA), in partnership with bodies such as the National Assembly Against Racism and the Trades Union Congress. This one day festival, on 21 July 2001, will be held in Finsbury Park. Its aim is to create a day of celebration which also informs people about the cultural contribution made by London's diverse population and in doing so to challenge prejudice and racist attitudes. The festival will include r'n'b, pop and a variety of world music, as well as a range of family entertainment. There will also be an exhibition area for participating organisations to display information and publicity about themselves and their contribution to diversity and eliminating racism.

2. The Mayor has invited the MPA and other functional bodies to participate in the festival. For the Authority this would be an opportunity to promote the MPA and its commitment to diversity.

3. Although the GLA is underwriting the cost of the festival, it is seeking to offset some of the costs through donations from partner organisations. Transport for London has agreed to donate £10,000 and it is understood that the London Development Agency is actively considering support. The MPA is invited by the Mayor to consider making a similar contribution.

4. In return, the MPA would be offered:

• a billing in pre-publicity and other material as supporting the concept of an anti-racist and multicultural festival. This could include displaying the MPA logo on relevant material;
• the festival's publicity material could be linked to profiling anti-racist and anti-discrimination policies of or planned by the MPA. Any new or ongoing initiatives by the MPA in this area could be flagged up in press material and the press pack;
• the MPA could provide a stand for the exhibition area to promote its role and policies.

A two page feature about the MPA's anti-racist and related policies in the Respect magazine and an advertisement to direct those at the festival and beyond to information about the MPA.

C. Financial implications

The contribution sought from the MPA is £10,000. If this is agreed, it should be on the basis that this includes the cost of the publicity etc outlined in paragraph four of this report. There is no specific MPA budget for such events and if a contribution is agreed it will have to be met from within the MPA's overall budget.

D. Background papers

• Letter from the Mayor's Office, 26 April 2001

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Simon Vile.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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