Shtip, 13 February 2023 (MIA) — After the Ministry of Culture earmarked EUR 6,500 for this year's Makfest festival of pop songs, Shtip Mayor Ivan Jordanov told a news conference Monday that the amount was "an insult to the Macedonian music scene, Shtip citizens and the general public."

According to Mayor Jordanov, this is the second year that state funding for Makfest has been this low, which he said meant that the Ministry of Culture "intended to destroy the most renowned pop music festival."

Jordanov said the event, which takes place in Shtip every year, received far less money than some other festivals. He listed as examples Lira Fest and Shkupi Fest, both of which he said received more than EUR 16,000 each.

"More than a million denars have been set aside for Lira Fest 2023. More than one million denars have been set aside for Shkupi Fest. But less than 400,000 denars for Makfest.

"We will not accept these funds. They can take them back and finance whatever other event they want to,” he said.

The Shtip mayor said the costs of organizing the festival were close to six million denars, which the Ministry of Culture used to allocate for Makfest in the past.

He said the festival would be held regardless, "with the help of socially responsible companies and sponsors who will fund it so as not to allow this brand of the city of Shtip and of Macedonian pop melodies to fade away," he said.

In response to his news conference, the Ministry of Culture said the amount was the same as last year because their committee of music experts had decided the money was enough to cover the expenses of holding a festival of prerecorded tracks.

Having no live performances or an orchestra backing the singers has diminished the quality of the event, the release said. 

Makfest did not accept any state support last year either and — for the first time — it did not name winners or give any prizes to festival participants. mr/