The Clapham Bandstand Concerts have become a tradition every year in the summer but local residents are fearful of its ability to continue if funding is cut
A South London summer event faces an uncertain future after the council ‘slashed its funding’, prompting the local community to come together to raise funds. The free Clapham Bandstand Concerts have been held every summer on Clapham Common for several years, bringing together multiple bands to provide free concerts for residents.
This year, however, the Clapham Common Management Advisory Committee (CCMAC) was told before the recent May elections that funding had been cut for one of South West London’s most loved traditions. Lambeth Council was previously run by a Labour majority. In the local elections, Lambeth Council elected its first-ever Green Party administration, which was voted through with the support of the Liberal Democrats.
The CCMAC website states that funding for the concerts has been reduced by more than 50 per cent.
Petr Kaiser, an elected member of CCMAC, who organised a GoFundMe to raise money to ensure the concert could go ahead this summer, told MyLondon: “[This year’s] Funding has been cut by 50 per cent. Funding for parks has been cut across the board. Previously, they funded the bandstand concerts in full.
“The community came together to raise the money, but I’m not surprised because when we first heard the news, the community stood up and said they’d chip in and pay for it. The community immediately said they would come together to help pay for it. Lambeth this year will pay £2.5k for it but we’re not sure what next year will bring. We hope the Greens will undo or continue with the funding.”
MyLondon reached out to the Lambeth Council to confirm whether the funding for the free concerts was being cut. They sent us a statement saying it was ‘incorrect to say that the council has cut funding’. They also stated that the funding will be split into £2.5k from the council’s events revenue budget and another £2.5k from the Clapham Common Parks Investment Levy allocation.
However, CCMAC have said that any decisions to use funding from the Parks Investment Levy allocation would need to be agreed by them, not a decision the council can simply ‘inform them’ of.
A council spokesperson said: “It is incorrect to say that the council has cut funding for the free Clapham Common Bandstand concerts. The council remains supportive of the Bandstand concerts and recognises the important role they play in providing free, accessible cultural activity for local residents and visitors to Clapham Common.
“There has been a change in the way the funding is allocated internally, but not a reduction in the overall level of support. The concerts will continue to be supported at the same level as previously, with funding coming through the council’s wider events-related budgets.
“Income generated through the council’s wider programme of events in parks and open spaces helps support free cultural activity across the borough, including the Clapham Common Bandstand concerts. This approach allows the council to use income from wider parks events to help sustain valued community cultural activity that remains free and accessible to residents.
“We will continue to work with local stakeholders and organisers to support the delivery of the concerts.”
The Clapham Bandstand concert takes place every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm. On Sunday, June 22, it will be the turn of the Brass United Club. As well as bands, a street food market will be on at the same time in the Common.
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