by DOUG COLLIE
The 2018 Borders Book Festival upped its ticket sales and contributed an estimated £2.32 million to the local economy despite being battered by 'Storm Hector', according to the annual accounts for last year, now available on the Companies House website.
A successful three-day festival also resulted in an above 25% increase in fees paid to the event's artistic directors Alistair Moffat and Paula Ogilvie whose 2017 payments of £25,000 from the company's board increased to more than £31,000 each last year.
According to the 2018 accounts: "During the year the Board approved payments to two directors (Alistair Moffat and Paula Ogilvie) of £31,650 and £31,900 respectively (2017 - £25,000 each) as part compensation for their contribution of skill and experience in the field of literary festivals.
"These approved amounts were in respect of fees to self-employed individuals, not wages or salaries. Paula Ogilvie was paid £1,287 contribution towards home office expenses (telephone, stationery, etc).
"Neither Mr Moffat nor Mrs Ogilvie receive any remuneration for their directorships of the company. In some years, for cost-saving reasons, the consultancy fees actually paid to them need to be reduced to below the board-approved levels".
A total of 42 temporary staff employed during the 2018 event received a total of £15,250.
The annual report signed by trustee Michael Moore says the 2018 festival was the fifteenth and had ticket sales of £212,116, and attracted almost 30,000 visitors from across Scotland and the rest of the UK. The economic impact on the Borders region was an estimated £2.32 million.
There were 100 performances by more than 120 artists. The report continues: "Storm Hector provided a challenge on the opening day and it was touch and go if our opening performances would go ahead."
The Hairy Bikers, an opening act at the festival, described it as "like Glastonbury with library tickets". Performers included William Hague and Nina Conti, says the report.
"We promoted the creativity of local writers and artists, providing mentoring opportunities for creative young people and a platform for them to participate and perform throughout the festival".
Storm Hector did claim one 'important casualty', namely the schools Gala Day which had to be postponed and was held instead in Galashiels during September 2018. Almost 800 children and their teachers from schools across the Borders took part.
"One of our jewels in the crown of the festival is our association with the Walter Scott prize for historical fiction which remains one of the country's leading literary prizes. In 2018 with the continued very generous support of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the entries maintained the range and quality of previous years".
The accounts also include the following passage: "As we rightly acknowledge each year, since it started, the festival has been supported enthusiastically and consistently by Scottish Borders Council, both financially and through the encouragement and assistance of councillors and officers; we could not have developed the festival to its current standing without this partnership. Likewise we are grateful to Creative Scotland and our other public sector partners for their continued contribution to our success".
Financial information shows the 2018 festival had net income of £4,752 compared with a surplus of £5,574 in 2017.
Festival tickets and book sales reached a total of £212,116 against £160,005 the previous year. The company received total income of £381,709 (£336,941). Overall costs totalled £376,957 (£331,427).
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