Folk 'in the black' for 2017
Board of directors thanks community, sponsors and volunteers after successful festival allows for repayment of $100,000 debt
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The $100,000 debt that threatened to shutter the Folk on the Rocks music festival this summer has been erased, according to the event's board of directors.
East coast indie rocker Joel Plaskett of Joel Plaskett Emergency performs at the 2016 Folk on the Rocks last month. Organizers say they will be "in the black" going into next year's festival. - NNSL file photo |
"We know we will be in the black going into next year's festival," said vice-president Ashley Makohoniuk.
"We have gotten rid of the $100,000 debt and are currently sitting in the black."
The Folk on the Rocks organization thanked the community for putting in the extra support needed to make the festival happen in a news release issued Thursday.
"One of the things that we can't stop saying is that the festival would not have happened if it were not for the community, the businesses, the individual sponsors, volunteers - all of those people," Makohoniuk told Yellowknifer.
"People were very accepting of the help we needed and we didn't hear, 'No,' very often when we asked for things. We had people step up and say, 'Hey! We want to help. What can we do?'"
Folk on the Rocks reported major deficits during its last two annual general meetings. In 2014, the organization announced a $5,000 deficit in 2013 had ballooned to $115,000, much of it occurring while the festival was without an executive director. David Whitelock, executive director in 2014, pointed out much of the deficit came after the festival missed deadlines for sponsorships and grants, which was $67,000 less than the previous year. The deficit was cut by more than half to $54,402 the next year but then controversy arose after organizers fired Whitelock in December. He then threatened to sue.
This year's debt was eliminated by operating on a reduced budget and cutting back on certain expenses, explained Makohoniuk.
Bringing the Warm the Rocks preview event to Long Lake on Friday evening this year made ticket, beer and merchandise sales reach projected goals, she said. In addition, organizers decided not to hire a full-time staff and contractors were only employed for specific dates. They also cut back on the number of musical performances.
Makohoniuk estimated that 2,300 people came out each day this year.
"Right now we're in the black and we're fairly hopeful that, at the annual general meeting, we will be announcing how much we are in the black," she said, referring to the board's budget.
Exact ticket and liquor sales information will be available at the fall annual general meeting, she said.
