Hello everyone,
[ED: the deadline for this project has now passed, but you can still help us out separately if you like: contact info@mergearts.org.uk]
first, we’d like to apologise for the mass communication. It’s impersonal, we know, and we’re sorry. But the nature of what we’re about to ask is all about involving as many people as possible, and as much as we’d love to be able to handcraft an email or message to every single one of you (and everyone you know), we simply don’t have the time. Sorry about that.
We’d like to be able to make it up to you.
Secondly, we’ve another apology. We’re trying to stage some events in Hull, events that should be an awesome experience for those involved and that we think can make a positive contribution to the city’s cultural life as a whole. We think it’s quite ambitious, and quite challenging. Merge2012: Our City, Our Story is an artistic celebration of the history of Hull, inspired by the archives at the History Centre. We’re showcasing Hull’s creative and performing talent, like we have been for the last few years, as well as, for the first time, the history and character of the city we live in.
Hopefully, you already know about the concert we’re putting on at Hull City Hall – it’s on June 9th, and it’s got local folk songs as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor (the one with the Ode to Joy in it). We’re creating an orchestra and a choir especially for this event, and we hope to involve up to 200 people in this opportunity – we know some of you have already signed up for this, and hope you’re as excited as we are.
Our apology is because this event’s going to cost us money to put on. We need to hire rehearsal space, and pay for some equipment and provide those performers with a copy of the music each. We’d love to be able to do all of this for free, and not involve money at all – because who can really put a price on the value of art and creativity? Unfortunately we can’t do that, because we have to cover those costs.
So, we’re asking for your help. Not necessarily to help us fund this project, although if you want to that’s fantastic. No, what we’re asking is that you help us to spread the word, to let people know what we’re doing and that we need a bit of funding to be sure it works. We’re hoping that loads of people will be willing to contribute a small amount (say, £5 or £10) towards the Humberside Festival Orchestra and Choir, and that together those people can make it happen.
Merge @ Hull City Hall from Merge Arts Festival on Vimeo.
So, please, visit our page on Sponsume.com. That’ll show you that this isn’t just a normal begging letter – we’re offering people things in return for their help. For example, some free concert tickets with the knowledge that half of the brass players only have their music because of you, or maybe an audience seat at our final rehearsal?
Please forward this message on to all of your friends, your family, people you happen to know (even if you don’t really like them), and to people you think might be willing and/or able to help us out.
Please tweet about it, share it on Facebook, write blogs or letters about it.
Please tell people who don’t have internet access or email account that this exists and that we’re asking for help.
And maybe, if you want to and feel you can, please help us yourself – it need only be a small amount, and we’ll be very grateful. The more people that are willing to help us out, the easier it will be – so please spread the word!
Thank you, for reading this, for being wonderful, and in advance for helping us in whatever way you choose,
Team Merge.
