Bread and circuses may not keep a modern populace happy, but street theatre is still a recognised 21st century tonic. Hence the delight in Galway at confirmation yesterday that the Macnas street parade will be part of this year's Galway Arts Festival after all.
Lack of funding had been cited as the main reason for the street theatre's decision several months ago not to stage the popular community event in late July as part of the arts festival's two-week programme. The company said that it would focus on a Halloween event, but would not be able to stretch to two major dates in its home city.
However, the Galway festival has been working with the company, and artistic director Paul Fahy told The Irish Times that the parade was now "almost certain" for this year's 30th anniversary programme.
Negotiations have been taking place with potential sponsors and the arts festival is still awaiting a response from Galway City Council to its application for additional grant-aid. The local authority has contributed about 2 per cent of the festival's €2.5 million budget and the festival is seeking an additional €160,000 for street events. Business and tourism interests have stressed the need to promote Galway as a tourist destination, given the negative publicity generated by the water crisis, and the festival's organisers have made it clear that they wish to be part of this drive.
The Western Writers' Centre - Ionad Scríbhneoirí Chaitlín Maude - has criticised what it perceives to be favourable treatment of the festival by the local authority. "It is unacceptable that Galway Arts Festival can continue to have such direct access to the city council when Project 06 [ last year's alternative festival] clearly pointed up the deficiencies in the festival and the need for a more co-operative approach to the arts in the city," Fred Johnston, the centre's director, said in a recent letter.
A city council spokeswoman said that a number of arts organisations had shared grants totalling €315,000 last year and that no one event received "priority".