Manchester International Festival today announces sponsorship for the ‘09 event of £3.1 million, representing a third of the entire operating costs of the Festival. This figure is a combination of 85% cash sponsorship and 15% value in kind.

The Festival has to date secured £3.1 million from new and returning sponsors including Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), City Inn, Bruntwood, Manchester Airport, PZ Cussons and NCP. This is in addition to significant public sector funding from Manchester City Council and Arts Council England.

“In an increasingly difficult climate for business we are delighted to have reached this landmark in our fundraising. This represents an endorsement from some very smart business people and we greatly appreciate it. The Festival couldn’t happen without their support,” said Festival Director Alex Poots.

The inaugural Manchester International Festival in 2007 benefited from £3.6 million in sponsorship; the most private sector funding ever raised for a UK festival. The target sponsorship figure for MIF 09 is again £3.6million and discussions continue with additional sponsors.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council said: “To secure six top tier sponsors is an impressive performance given the current economic climate. Many of these companies
invested in the first festival and this on-going support clearly demonstrates the benefits of association with this event, not only for their organisation but for the City as a whole.”

The first Festival in 2007 attracted over 200,000 visitors to the city with an estimated economic impact of £28.8 million and further enhanced Manchester’s international reputation as a leading cultural city.

The current list of sponsors of the 2009 Manchester International Festival:

Official Sponsors: Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), City Inn, Bruntwood, Manchester Airport, PZ Cussons, NCP

Public Funders: Manchester City Council, Arts Council England

Official Supporters: Cobbetts, Speedy Hire

Official Supplier: Stephenson Bell

Media Partners: MEN, The Guardian, BBC

NOTES TO EDITORS

Manchester International Festival is the world’s first festival of original, new work and special events and takes place biennially, in Manchester, UK. The Festival launched in 2007 as an artist-led, commissioning festival presenting new works from across the spectrum of performing arts, music, visual arts and popular culture.

The second Manchester International Festival takes place from 2-19 July 2009 with a programme of original work and special events including a commission that will see Zaha Hadid Architects create a bespoke environment for the solo works of JS Bach; Everybody Loves a Winner, Neil Bartlett’s new play which will bring bingo to the Royal Exhange theatre and Prima Donna, Rufus Wainwright’s debut opera. The full programme will be announced in March 09.

In the photograph, from left to right: Simon Scott – Bruntwood, Head of Marketing; Sheldon Phillips – NWDA, Head of Regional Major Events; Andrew Cornish – Manchester Airport, Managing Director; Jo Dunkley – City Inn, Head of Marketing; Alex Kanellis – PZ Cussons, CEO; Brandon Leigh – PZ Cussons, Group Finance Director; Alex Poots – Manchester International Festival, Festival Director.
©Joel Chester Fildes.