A Message from the Principal:
Zimbabwe’s Immigration department have changed the rules and bringing musicians to Zimbabwe has become a much more costly business. The paperwork for one South African performer promoted by the Alliance Française just over a week ago cost $1 100.00. We simply don’t have that kind of money for each concert even if we believed it was unmissable.
In the meantime, there’s a further complication: Immigration will not consider an application from Celebrity Subscription Concerts for a work permit, never mind about one from PAB, until they receive a letter from us explaining why we did not apply for a work permit on Petroc Trelawney’s behalf. That letter was written and sent to Celebs two weeks ago but at the time of writing Immigration had refused to accept delivery as the addressee was on leave.
Until this matter has been resolved, there is no question of Performing Arts registering as a promoter. In any case, as I said in that last letter, we hope to establish an umbrella organisation for all musical organisations who wish to bring in performers. That shouldn’t take much time, but securing the necessary permissions may well take rather longer!…
Meanwhile we hope to offer concerts with local performers in the next couple of months, one as a fund-raiser for the festival. Despite its undoubted musical success (I’ve spoken to no one who didn’t consider it the best ever), it lost quite a lot of money, mainly because of lower ticket sales than anticipated rather than overspending, so we hope that you will be generous in your support!
And one last point: although several of us both work at the Academy and are on the Festival/Performing Arts committee, the two are entirely separate organisations with their own funding and own priorities. The Academy hosted the festival but paid nothing towards it, very much the reverse, in fact, as it was paid $3 000.00 for the use of the hall and various rooms for festival week. In addition pianos were tuned and repaired by both Christopher Smith and Keith Jarred, so overall the Academy did quite well from the festival!
Best wishes as always,
Michael Bullivant