‘Festival of Brexit’ to go ahead in 2022
Boss vows to bring ‘joy, hope and happiness’ to divided nation
The man tasked with delivering the so-called “Festival of Brexit” in 2022 has said he will prove the cynics wrong and bring the nation together.
Martin Green has used his first interview since being appointed to role before Christmas to promise the £120m nationwide celebration will showcase British creativity and bring some “joy, hope and happiness”.
Green previously oversaw the 2012 London Olympic ceremonies, as well as being chief executive of Hull’s year as City of Culture.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
First mooted by Theresa May in 2018 and given the green light by Boris Johnson last year, critics have “mocked and pilloried” the idea says The Guardian, labelling it a “Festival of Brexit”. “What precisely the festival will be remains to be seen”, says the paper.
May was inspired by the 1951 Festival of Britain, “but that was arguably a more graspable idea in that it had a centrepiece location on the South Bank in London. Festival 2022 will not”, the paper notes.
“The government had hoped that the celebrations would lead to a repeat of the boost the country gained from the 2012 London Olympics through construction, tourism and trade,” the New European reports. “But there has been muted reaction from the culture sector”, it adds, with many fearing the event could alienate Remain voters.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Putting aside the fact that “it would be hard to find many artists, writers and musicians who were positive about leaving the European Union”, Anthony Clavane in the Yorkshire Post says, “the main reason it would fall flat is that we are increasingly becoming a festival-sceptic nation”.
“Among the many problems associated with the festival is one of timing” says Tom Morton in art magazine Frieze. 2022 also marks the Queen’s platinum jubilee, the BBC’s centenary, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the 75th Edinburgh international festival.
Another “big challenge will be winning over scepticism in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales” says The Guardian, made harder by the fact 2022 also marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the Irish civil war and 50th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday massacre.
“If any more evidence were needed of the Conservative Party’s insensitivities to Northern Ireland’s nationalist community, then surely this is it,” says Morton.
“Likewise, it’s hard to see the ‘Festival of Brexit’ receiving an unequivocally warm welcome in Scotland, where 62% of voters backed remaining in the European Union, and where calls for a new referendum on Scottish independence grow ever louder,” he adds.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - October 5, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - gathering funds, juggling tariffs, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 category 5 cartoons about hurricane Helene
Artists take on precarious conditions, planning ahead, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Wolfs: 'comedy thriller' stumbles despite George Clooney and Brad Pitt
While the crime caper might 'pleasingly pass a Saturday night' its star-studded duo cannot ultimately salvage it
By The Week UK Published
-
The great British food shortage: what’s causing empty supermarket shelves?
feature Unseasonal weather, transport issues and energy prices are leading to rationing of fresh produce in UK stores
By Ellie Pink Published
-
Sport on TV guide: Christmas 2022 and New Year listings
Speed Read Enjoy a feast of sporting action with football, darts, rugby union, racing, NFL and NBA
By Mike Starling Published
-
House of the Dragon: what to expect from the Game of Thrones prequel
Speed Read Ten-part series, set 200 years before GoT, will show the incestuous decline of Targaryen
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
One in 20 young Americans identify as trans or non-binary
Speed Read New research suggests that 44% of US adults know someone who is transgender
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Turner Prize 2022: a ‘vintage’ shortlist?
Speed Read All four artists look towards ‘growth, revival and reinvention’ in their work
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
What’s on TV this Christmas? The best holiday television
Speed Read From films and documentaries to musicals for all the family
By The Week Staff Published
-
Coco vision: up close to Chanel opticals
Speed Read Parisian luxury house adds opticals to digital offering
By The Week Staff Published
-
Abba returns: how the Swedish supergroup and their ‘Abba-tars’ are taking a chance on a reunion
Speed Read From next May, digital avatars of the foursome will be performing concerts in east London
By The Week Staff Published