Festival fundraising programme launched
Pictured are some of the team behind Europe’s acclaimed Spraoi International Street Arts Festival. TV Honan (Director), Mike Leahy (Artistic Director), Shauna Farrell (Casting Coordinator), Niamh Colbert (General Manager), Jaimie Dower (Chairperson), Nick Kavanagh (Performance Director). Photograph: Patrick Browne
The Spraoi Festival in Waterford has launched a new public fundraising programme under the title of, '‘DONATE to SPRAOI’.
Ireland’s dedicated street arts and spectacle event, the international street arts festival, recently announced its new public fundraising drive.
The creators of Waterford’s premiere summer event are inviting festival audiences to become stakeholders by donating to the initiative.
The annual Spraoi weekend attracts local, national and international audiences.
As one of the organisers said "joyous mayhem is unleashed by a cast of international street performers presenting hundreds of free performances over three days".
This year the event will take place from August 2 to 4.
Festival Director TV Honan said: "During the festival Spraoi will offer people opportunities to become stakeholders by donating via QR codes on signs throughout the city centre on the weekend."
However, from now on people will also be able to donate at anytime on Spraoi.com.
"We have noticed that since Covid-19, the way people donate to events and causes has changed," said TV.
"We are a much more ‘tap’ and ‘online’ society. Spraoi is adapting to this and we are saying to people, 'if you are enjoying the festival donate via our website: Spraoi.com'," he added.
Collectors will also be on the streets so people can donate cash or tap, but donating online is the best way to secure Spraoi Festival’s future. For over 30 years Spraoi has been central to the arts scene in Waterford.
The festival has created outstanding original parade productions and it showcases street artists from around the world.
It attracts cross-generational audiences and a weekend feel-good, street party atmosphere.
Spraoi is a not-for-profit organisation and this year's event will cost €375,000 to present.
"We guarantee every single euro donated by the public will end up delivering entertainment on the streets," said TV.
"Donations enable us to present world-class arts for all – it is a celebration of creativity, community and culture which is made accessible to everyone and if you think about what it costs families to attend other attractions, a donation to Spraoi represents brilliant value for money."
The festival is delivered by way of funding, sponsorship and through public fundraising support like ‘DONATE to SPRAOI’ and it is also delivered so spectacularly it has a great alliance of volunteers who help the paid artists, act as marshals, and take to the streets with fundraising buckets and more.
"We are grateful to them," said TV.
To support the event go to www.spraoi.com or look out for one of the volunteers throughout the weekend.
