The Burning Woman festival, dedicated to women’s music and arts, is facing criticism over difficulties with refunds. The event, which was supposed to take place at Belvoir Castle in Lincolnshire, was cancelled due to online harassment and financial struggles. The festival organisers regret the decision, stating, “We have poured our hearts and souls into creating a transformative and empowering event for you, especially amidst the challenges of the pandemic, last-minute venue change, and the rising cost of living.”
Burning Woman cited “relentless harassment from an anonymous group of women” who were spreading false information about the festival as the reason behind the cancellation. The harassment campaign reportedly undermined the foundation of the event which had the potential to empower women and create a unique and supportive community of female artists and musicians. Burning Woman said it was “heartbroken” over the circumstances.
The festival cancelled its plans ahead of its scheduled dates, July 19-21. The event was aimed at providing a transformative and empowering experience for all attendees and supporting local female artists and musicians. Burning Woman has not yet provided information about how the refunds will be processed, which has stirred conveyance among ticket holders.
A debilitating trend for UK festivals this summer is cancellations due to the enormous costs of staging events and the unprecedented impact of the pandemic. Hundreds of events have already been called off due to hurdle of the pandemic’s enduring impact and uncertainty around lockdown restrictions and social distancing policies. The difficulty is further aggravated by people’s reluctance to book expensive tickets that are likely to be cancelled or postponed.
The removal of such festivals creates not only a financial problem for organizers, but also naturally limits the enjoyment and entertainment offerings for those who would have liked to attend such events. Festivals like Burning Woman are important spaces that bring communities together in support of artists and art, and opportunities to embrace these moments of artistic and cultural expression should be treasured
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