Manchester Pride owes more than £1.3m to performers, venues, and suppliers following this year’s festival, documents to be presented to creditors today by business recovery specialists KR8 Advisory reveal.
According to a Statement of Affairs and Directors Report from KR8, the charity has £269,291 in cash but total debts of £1,306,683. Nearly 200 creditors are affected, including headline performers, venues, and service providers.
Among those owed is Nelly Furtado’s indie label, Nelstar Touring Inc, which is listed as £145,755.75 down. Mayfield Depot, the venue where this year’s Mardi Gras was held, is owed more than £330,000. Event security company Practical Event Solutions, a Salford-based security firm not to be confused with Sacha Lord’s Primary Event Solutions, is owed over £167,000, and St John Ambulance is owed £47,330.
Olly Alexander, Leigh-Anne and Nelly Furtado were among the big names performing at this year’s Manchester Pride’s 40th anniversary. Payment concerns first emerged last month when hundreds of performers reported they had not received agreed fees.
While many were on 60-day payment terms some, including RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Banksie, had 31-day terms that have also allegedly gone unpaid.
Performers’ union Equity has criticised the delayed payment terms, and the Charity Commission has launched an investigation into Manchester Pride’s finances. Organisers reportedly approached Manchester Council for assistance with debts, but no bailout was forthcoming.
Trustees said last month as the event entered liquidation: “We had hoped to be able to find a way to continue, and, most importantly, to support our artists, contractors and partners. Despite our best efforts. sadly, this has not proved to be possible. We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation.
“The volunteer Board of Trustees are devastated at this situation and sad to share that our staff team will be made redundant.”
All creditors, including performers, are to be contacted directly by the liquidators, and the charity has confirmed it will no longer respond to media enquiries.
