2021 Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival Cancelled

The 2021 Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival has been cancelled due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID and the safety of our performers, patrons, and volunteers.

To assist the SJRF Board in determining the best course of action regarding the 2021 Festival a survey was distributed to several hundred performers, donors, sponsors, attendees, and volunteers soliciting opinions on various options including:  Cancel 2021 festival, Postpone festival until fall,  Hold reduced venue festival, Continue with Syncopated Saturday Night virtual concerts,  or Produce a virtual concert.

Responses were received from a good cross section of the segments who received the survey. The feedback is summarized as follows:

· Most expressed concerns for the health and safety of all involved as connected with Covid.

· Rescheduling to the fall would create competition with other festivals traditionally holding their festival at that time, as well as conflicts with performer schedules.

· A majority indicated a preference for a full festival venue and not a reduced venue festival.

· Our foundation does not have the resources required to produce a virtual concert.

· There was a general appreciation for what the Sedalia Festival offers and an understanding of the difficult decision facing the Board.

· A decision regarding the June festival needed to be made by March to avoid losing significant upfront money.

· Projections verify that significantly reduced attendance at a festival would create future financial hardship for the Foundation.

All things being considered, the SJRF Board voted to cancel an on-site 2021 festival and further to continue producing the virtual Syncopated Saturday Night concerts. Production of  a virtual Festival Friday on June 4, 2021 and Syncopated Saturday Night on June 5, 2021, perhaps incorporating symposia, and special presentations have begun.