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Arts festival slammed
May 19 2003
A controversial Birmingham arts festival has been accused of damaging the city's bid to be European Capital of Culture 2008.
The alternative Fierce festival, which includes scenes of nudity, self-mutilation and a naked man lying in a glass coffin full of ants for three days, opened to the public on Saturday night.
Birmingham City Council has poured £22,000 into the two-week event which has received criticism from MPs.
Andrew Mitchell, Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, labelled the event "degenerate and sick" and an "insult" to council tax payers.
"It seems to me that most of the acts taking part are in serious need of medical attention," he said.
Mr Mitchell spoke out after John Whittingdale, the Shadow Culture Secretary, said he feared the festival would jeopardise the city's Capital of Culture bid.
"These performances are designed to shock rather than put across any artistic message," he said.
Shows include What You Looking At? which features performers in a glass box trying to outdo each other with increasingly wild actions.
Visions of Excess sees 20 performers take over a lap-dancing club for 24 hours giving intimate performances. Organisers say the festival will broaden the city's artistic image, better known for the Birmingham Royal Ballet and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
A spokesman for the city council Capital of Culture bid team said last night:
"The Fierce festival is very good at engaging young people and stimulating debate, which is the purpose of art."
