15-05-2025
Freewill Shakespeare Festival says fundraising campaign needed to keep festival afloat
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival has launched a fundraising campaign to save the festival.
Organizers say the loss of the Heritage Amphitheatre due to renovations at Hawrelak Park, reduction of government grants, loss of corporate sponsorships, and the shrinking of its audience base after the COVID-19 pandemic has left the festival struggling for funds.
'We've calculated that if we do not build up our reserve at the end of this summer, we will not be able to come back to Hawrelak Park in 2026,' the group said in its fundraising push announcement.
'This fundraising push is ambitious but necessary. We need to build a reserve of $150,000 by the end of this year's festival. This may sound like a lot, but it is only about 20 per cent of our annual budget.'
Organizers say funds raised will be used to pay artists and crew when the festival returns to Hawrelak Park next year.
Donations to the fundraiser can be made online.
