The Birmingham Chinese New Year celebrations is a popular free event, but organisers fear the event in 2015 could be the last free one, owing to city council cuts. This time Chinese New Year falls on 19th February, and the celebration is to be held on 22nd February (Sunday), at the Arcadian Centre in Birmingham.
Birmingham City Council in its effort to save £72 million is cutting grants to the city’s community events, including St.Patrick’s Day Parade, the Eid Mela and Birmingham Gay Pride. Organisers say festivities of the Chinese New Year could also be affected. This 2015 event may be the last time the festivities are held free. The council gives a £9,000 grant for the celebrations, of which mostly are paid back for various requirements to the council, like for barriers around the festival area, for security officers and other requirements for health and safety. The festival committee has about £2,000 left to fund the rest of the celebrations.
The Chinese New Year event gives a big boost to the local economy too. With thousands of visitors coming in, the free event attracts more than 30,000 people every year. There is 200% more visitors to shops and restaurants too. Chairman of the Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee, Jeffrey Yap, said it is a hugely popular event and would like it to remain free, but without funding, they need to find the money from somewhere.
