Lucerne stands by the Blue Balls Festival
The city of Lucerne has examined the formation of a foundation model in order to broaden the sponsorship of the Blue Balls Festival from 2021. The city council now wants to maintain its current support for the festival.
The support includes a financial contribution of CHF 130,000 per year, the granting of usage rights in the KKL Lucerne and the provision of public land free of charge. Festival director Urs Leierer had previously announced that without broader sponsorship and additional funding from private individuals and the city, he would no longer be prepared to organize the festival at his own risk or that of the association he presides over.
The city is of the opinion that a foundation model is not suitable for securing the festival's future. Furthermore, the involvement of the City of Lucerne within the framework of a foundation under private law does not fit in with the participation strategy of the City of Lucerne.
The festival has existed since 1992 and is organized by the Lucerne Blues Session association based in Lucerne. The name "Blue Balls" has been used since 1999. The event has grown steadily over the years, both spatially and financially.
Picture credits
By WES1947 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28329309