Support the 40th Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival

We come to you with a plea for help in preserving a most important event: The 40th Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival. This festival has been a beacon of music, entertainment and culture, bringing together musicians and audiences from across the UK, Europe, and beyond. However, this year, we face an unprecedented challenge that threatens the very existence of this significant event.

The Birmingham City Council, currently grappling with financial difficulties, has announced drastic cuts to its budget for arts and culture and is unable to give any support whatsoever to The Jazz & Blues Festival. The council has supported the festival for 39 years, but never more than one year at a time. Each year since 1985 the festival has had to apply to the council for one year’s funding at a time.

For 39 years, the Birmingham City Council has been a crucial supporter of our festival, and their decision to withdraw all funding puts the festival in an incredibly precarious position. Without this support, our ability to organize and present a festival of the quality we have all come to expect hangs in the balance.

We refuse to let this unique, vibrant and inclusive celebration of jazz and blues just fade away. That's why we're turning to you, our loyal supporters and those who value great and entertaining music for help. We have launched this GoFundMe campaign with a modest goal of £20,000.

Your contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a tremendous difference. Here’s what your support will help us achieve:

1. Sustain the Festival: Your donations will go directly towards covering essential costs such as artist fees and travel, running costs, equipment rentals, and marketing. With your support, we can ensure that the show goes on!

2. Preserve Free Access: One of the hallmarks of the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival is its accessibility. Over 90% of our events are free admission, allowing everyone to enjoy world-class music regardless of their financial means. Your donations will help us keep this tradition alive.

3. Celebrate 40 Years: This year marks our 40th anniversary, and we refuse to let financial setbacks dampen the celebrations. With your help, we can ensure that this milestone is properly celebrated in style, showcasing the rich history and bright future of jazz and blues in Birmingham.

We understand that times are tough for many, but we believe that together, we can overcome this challenge and ensure that the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival continues to inspire, entertain, and unite us for years to come.

Join us in preserving this vital cultural institution. Your support today will ensure that the music never stops in Birmingham.

Thank you for your generosity and belief in the power of music to uplift and unite us all.

Sincerely,

Jim Simpson

Festival Director

Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival