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Middleburg Arts Council seeks $17,000 to launch Robert Burns Night in January
Summary
The Middleburg Arts Council asked the council to increase its FY budget by $17,000 (to $27,000) to pilot a Robert Burns Night and week‑long Scottish festival in January 2025; council members raised concerns about short lead time, staffing and whether the event should be town-run or privately organized.
The Middleburg Arts Council asked the town council on Nov. 13 to increase its Arts Council budget by $17,000 to support a Robert Burns Night and a weeklong festival planned for Jan. 25, 2025, at the Middleburg Community Center.
Ali, speaking for the council’s arts staff and volunteers, introduced the request and said the additional funding would raise the MAC budget from $10,000 to $27,000 for the fiscal year. "We are seeking an increase in the MAC budget of $17,000 to fund this event," Ali said during the presentation.
Dr. Kathleen Fraser, who outlined the program, described a traditional Burns Night program with a bagpipe welcome, presentation of the haggis, poetry readings and a ceilidh (community barn dance). Fraser said the event would include local vendors, raffles and a headline band, the Sean Healy Band, and projected ticket revenues and sponsorships to offset costs. She discussed a $50 ticket model and said early ticketing suggested community interest: "We're at 58 tickets sold," she said.
Council members welcomed the idea but repeatedly questioned the six‑ to eight‑week timeline. Several said the Arts Council is volunteer run and lacks the staff capacity for a short‑notice, town‑managed production during the busy holiday season. One councilor recommended postponing a town‑run version to give the committee time to prepare; others suggested allowing the event to proceed as a privately organized event with town support but without committing the full $17,000 until the arts council demonstrates a volunteer and logistics plan.
Ali and Dr. Fraser said the arts council would meet to firm up commitments and provide a marketing kit for vendors; Dr. Fraser said some vendors and performers were already in place and that raffles and vendor fees could generate income. Council members asked for a formal recommendation from the Arts Council before approving town funding and emphasized the need to confirm liability, liquor‑license arrangements and volunteer assignments.
The council did not take a final vote on funding during the meeting. The presentation closed with staff and council agreeing to return with a clearer plan, including confirmation of volunteer commitments and the arts council’s formal recommendation.
