Festival Jamaica 2012 was
It was due to close on Sunday (12 August) but shut down yesterday owing to low visitor numbers. Organisers say it did, however, attract large crowds for Jamaican Independence Day on 7 August.
A spokesperson for the festival told Event: "As with a number of festivals we have experienced a lack of footfall and have suffered financially. The evening events in particular have all been quite costly. For the first week or so we were really struggling to get the numbers up for the vendors who were there."
The event evolved from a reggae-inspired art exhibition conceived by a local group to encompass music, food and theatre. It was funded by organisers without sponsors or support from local authorities, organisers said.
The site could accommodate between and 2,000 and 3,000 people a day with a performance hall holding up to 700.
Anyone who paid for tickets for cancelled events will be refunded, the spokesperson said.
In a statement, the festival's organisers said: "The organisers of Festival Jamaica 2012 would like to inform you that they have decided to bring the event to a close following successful events including performances of The Harder They Come, the Lovers Rock night and an excellent day of multiple live broadcasts from the site during Jamaica's independence celebrations. Festival Jamaica 2012 would also like to thank all of those who came and supported."
The news comes just days after owing to poor visitor numbers.
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