Festival cancelled on religious grounds


27 September 2004 12:03

A PEACEFUL festival, which has raised hundreds of pounds for Norwich charities over the past few years, has been unexpectedly cancelled due to "religious reasons".

The Sacred Celebration of Remembrance, Release and Renewal, organised by Inanna's Festival, was due to be held at the medieval Birkbeck Hall at the Norwich Great Hospital in Bishopgate.

Although the event had been booked for three months, hospital bosses claimed they were not aware of its content of and cancelled arrangements abruptly last week, saying they feared it was of a pagan nature.

The earth-centred, end-of-year service and celebration on November 7 marks the end of autumn and gives people a chance to indulge in meditation, reflection and relaxation for three hours.

Organiser Naomi, from Inanna's Festival — a new-age shop selling books, gifts and jewellery in Pottergate — said she felt she had been discriminated against and that the event was not linked to religion. Naomi, who would not reveal her surname, added: "This event is non-spiritual, non-denominational and is just a chance for people to reflect in peaceful surroundings.

"In all the years I have been doing this, I have never run into anything like this and it is illegal and discriminatory for them to do this.

"They told me out of the blue and I now have to find somewhere else to hold the venue or the community misses out."

This year the non-profit-making event was raising funds for the Norfolk Suicide Bereavement Support Group.

In the past, the events, held at the old St Gregory's art centre have raised money for the Priscilla Bacon Lodge hospice and Fairy Land Trust.

Birkbeck Hall, which is home to 130 elderly residents, is advertised as a public venue and is available for a wide range of events and activities.

"The way this has been handled is inappropriate," said Naomi.

"The hospital said residents would be shocked at what we are doing, but how can we offend anyone by sitting around in circles spending time on personal reflection and meditation?

"There is a spiritual element to it, but it is not religious. The event is always open to anyone, whatever religion and I am baffled as to why this has happened."

Dorothy North, chief executive of the Great Hospital, said: "This is not appropriate for some of our residents and I have to respect their wishes. I was only recently given full details of the event and I just don't think it is suitable. I am not willing to go into full details about why we cancelled the event, but it is not until November so I am sure there will be another suitable venue."

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