Burning Woman, a women’s music and arts festival, has faced backlash over refund problems after the festival’s cancellation.
The festival, which was supposed to be held in Lincolnshire this month, announced it had cancelled its 2024 edition due to financial struggles and online harassment. Burning Woman would have run from July 19-21 at Belvoir Castle this year.
In an Instagram post, the organisers wrote it was “not an easy decision,” adding: “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.”
The festival further claimed they experienced “relentless harassment from an anonymous group of women” who “spread untruths about the company”. Burning Woman eventually went into liquidation on July 8 (as per the BBC).
However, Burning Woman is now receiving criticism and has been accused of not giving out refunds. The BBC reports one email sent to a ticketholder saying that the festival “is not able to make any payments, including part or full refunds”.
The festival also allegedly told ticket holders they would be contacted by the festival’s insolvency practitioner. However, the BBC reports that customers have received “no communication” from organisers or insolvency practitioners.
One soon-to-be festivalgoer, Siani Driver, told the BBC: “I’m a mum of three kids. I don’t go on fancy holidays. I’m a carer for my disabled son so don’t have £250 just lying around to spend on myself.”
Driver further said she was “angry and disappointed” by the decision, and would “be amazed if I got my £250 back”, adding: “It was a real kick in the teeth”.
Siani’s friend also said: “It’s left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, especially because it is a festival that touted itself as being an empowering experience for women.”
40 UK festivals have apparently been cancelled this summer, with over 170 disappearing in five years.
The new figures were shared by the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) – the UK’s leading not-for-profit festival trade association, which represents the interests of 202 UK music festivals, ranging from 500 to 80,000 capacity.
In an NME feature exploring the reasons for these cancellations, Barn On The Farm co-manager told us: “COVID had a severe impact on so many different sectors on so many different ways, and there needs to be a short-to-mid-term support package in place for festivals and events in terms of a reduction in the VAT rate on ticket sales,” he said.
“That gives all of us the opportunity to realign and readjust to how the market has changed over the last two years since COVID.”
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