Provisional end for Afro-Pfingsten
Following the announcement by the Afro-Pfingsten association that it would be carrying out a reorganization, the city of Winterthur and the reorganization officer have agreed not to financially reorganize the Afro-Pfingsten association. The festival will not be held in 2016. Its future is currently open.
The Afro-Pfingsten association is over-indebted. According to a press release from the city of Winterthur, the company Fairmeetings AG, which organized the festival on behalf of the Afro-Pfingsten association, is no longer in a position to carry forward the event's losses and must also make a debt reduction. The city of Winterthur does not want to make a restructuring contribution for the accumulated debts of around 700,000 Swiss francs.
In a meeting between the mayor, the head of the City of Winterthur's culture department and the Afro-Pfingsten association's restructuring officer, it was determined that the Afro-Pfingsten association will not be restructured. It will probably have to file for insolvency as creditors have already taken legal action. The current financial, structural and legal situation should first be resolved before the future of the Afro-Pfingsten festival is considered.
The festival will not be held in 2016. Under the current circumstances, it is not possible to establish a viable and sustainable organizational structure in the remaining six months that can guarantee solid financing, the city writes further. However, both sides have signaled their interest in continuing the festival.
