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 A spectacular celebratory ceremony marking the opening year at the Sage Gateshead has been postponed due to a funding crisis.
The outdoor event, which was to feature internationally-renowned high wire artist, Philippe Petit walking across a wire stretched between Newcastle and the top of the £70m music centre, to a live soundtrack provided by Sting and the Northern Sinfonia, was due to happen in June. A spectacular celebratory ceremony marking the opening year at the Sage Gateshead has been postponed due to a funding crisis.
The outdoor event, which was to feature internationally-renowned high wire artist, Philippe Petit walking across a wire stretched between Newcastle and the top of the £70m music centre, to a live soundtrack provided by Sting and the Northern Sinfonia, was due to happen in June.
But it has been announced that the event will now not go ahead due to "funding problems" - with bosses at the centre are unable to give any indication of when it may be rescheduled.
Philippe, who came to international attention in 1974 when he walked between the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, had been in talks with Mr Sergeant and Gateshead Council since December 2001.
Last year, Wallsend-born rock star Sting, a friend of Philippe's, announced he would join the Northern Sinfonia to perform a special arrangement of the traditional song, Waters Of Tyne, while his friend crossed the river.
Much of the technical and organisational planning required for the performance is now in place, but the money is not.
Mr Sargent refused to be drawn on the cost of the event, saying only that "a substantial, seven-figure sum" would be required for it to go ahead safely and in all its glory.
"This event was just one of many on our programme for 2005. We have had an absolutely incredible, and very busy, opening few weeks with more than 50,000 people through the doors. This is definitely a postponement, not a cancellation."
Based on "High wire act off as cash fails to balance" as appeared in The Newcastle Journal of 3 January 2005.
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