It’s a feel-good life on the street
THERE is a special sense of vibrancy in the streets of Town in the summer, one that is very much enhanced by the efforts of the Guernsey Street Festival and the local acts it promotes.
It is no easy feat organising such an event in our main shopping centre, and trying to engage with shops and restaurants, who may argue that they don’t particularly see any benefit from the singing and music in the streets.
Only three shops are listed as corporate supporters of the event and though others do have festival promotions, many of those are quite limited in scope. It’s not an easy time for bricks and mortar retailing and we make no judgement here about whether retailers should be involved.
Where the Street Festival really scores is its commitment to making the streets a brighter space at a key time, with what appears to be limited fuss, and its ability to give an opportunity to showcase some of the considerable amount of young talent we have in the island.
Would a visitor, or a cruise liner passenger, walk away from St Peter Port with a sour impression, having come across the Street Festival?
Enabling more street performances is a relatively simple concept that gives islanders and visitors a spring in their step as they pass through.
It’s a scene that islanders have become used to in the summers – and long may it continue to flourish.