He told BBC News last year: “This project was conceived to happen after our exit from the EU and acknowledges that we have been going through, and are going through, a divisive time.
“Creativity has always proven itself brilliant at finding more of what we have in common than what we don’t.
“So the idea that projects can bring people together is a really timely one.”
The festival, due to take place in 2022, has the alternative title of Festival UK 2022.
