Welcome to the 2007 BAFA conference. We are here in the wonderful town of Buxton all hoping for a ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ not only outside but in the conference itself. After listening carefully to what members have told us about their aspirations, this year we have changed the format of the conference to make it bigger and broader than ever before. As well as great key-note speakers there are multiple sessions with really practical hands-on advice and plenty of time for the all important networking. We are also launching the BAFA Award which each year will recognise an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to British arts festivals. We hope the conference will help BAFA to appeal to a broad range of members and potential members across the arts, making the Association the natural voice for the festivals sector. The changes seem to be proving popular, with more delegates than ever before registering to attend. I hope you enjoy our summit and find time to sample some of Buxton’s delights as well. Nick Dodds Chairman
THURSDAY 11 OCTOBER 2007 A late afternoon and evening of social networking events setting the scene for two full days of Conference Sessions
17.00-18.00
Drop in Welcome Tea Party Please check into your accommodation and walk over to these tearooms where tea and fantastic cakes will be available as well as a chance to meet the other delegates. No6 Tearooms 6 The Square Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6AZ Telephone: 01298 213541 18.00-18.30 Short guided walk around Buxton town centre beginning on the pavement outside the tearoom. 18.45 Transport (or walk through the Pavilion Gardens if you prefer 15/20mins) to the Poole’s Caverns. Here we will have a short visit and tour inside these amazing limestone caves where mulled wine will be served. Locally sourced hot food and drink will follow in the visitors centre. Poole's Cavern Green Lane Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9DH Telephone 01298 26978 21.00-LATE Transport (or walk back through the Pavilion Gardens if you prefer) into town to the Old Hall Hotel and the Orchestra Pit Bar which has been reserved for the private use of the 2007 BAFA Annual Conference. Old Hall Hotel The Square Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6BD Telephone 01298 22841
sponsored by La Playa
For an outline of any of the sessions, together with a brief CV of the speaker presenting that session, please refer to the information at the end of this detailed programme – speakers listed in order of appearance. FRIDAY 12 OCTOBER 2007 CONFERENCE ITINERARY LOOKING OUTSIDE TIME
TITLE
All daytime conference events will take place at:
The Dome University of Derby 1 Devonshire Road Buxton Derbyshire
Main entrance off Devonshire Road
09.00-09.30
Registration, Session Selection & Coffee Conference welcome from BAFA
Dome Floor – Main Central Arena ROOM 1 Directly off the Dome Floor
09.30-09.35
09.35-09.40 09.40-09.45
Welcome from our Host Festival A word from our Sponsor
SPEAKER
Nick Dodds BAFA Chair & CE Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival Buxton Festival Celebratio powered by secureticket
10.00 10.00-10.45
Conference Keynote The Future of UK Jonathan Mills Festivals Festival Director Edinburgh International Festival
10.45-11.15
Refreshments & networking Short presentation by Derbyshire University: Events Management Course on student placements
LOCATION
ROOM 1 ROOM 1
ROOM 1
Dome Floor
11.15-12.00 Practical Sessions ROOM 1 Events Management & Ticketing Sally Oakley Director, Sales & Marketing Celebratio 12.00-12.45 ROOM 1 Making the Cultural Olympiad Local
These four 45 minute sessions will run concurrently
Lorna Brown Head of Arts & Cultural Strategy West Sussex County Council
Tim Birch Information Manager EUCLID
12.45-13.45
LUNCH
Dome
13.45 13.45-14.15
Investigating the Olympics China Now – Fenella Barber brought to you by Programme chinese whispers Manager CHINA NOW Cultural Tourism - A Adrian Bevan real partnership International opportunity in 2008 Product Marketing and beyond Manager VisitBritain 2008-2012 Paul Brookes The Cultural 2012 Olympiad Olympics Creative Programmer East-Midlands & Sarah Adams Acting Director Legacy Trust
ROOM 1 ROOM 1
14.15-14.45
14.45-15.30
Read across for room allocation
ROOM 2 ROOM 3 ROOM 4 European Funding The Unfair World? “…but I don’t like for the UK Culture Visas Update Folk!” Sector Tim Birch Mark Ringwood Steve Heap Information Director, Mrs Director Manager Roots Around the Casey Music & EUCLID World FolkArts England Followed immediately by these Practical Sessions: ROOM 2 ROOM 3 ROOM 4 08 European Year Good Governance: Programming for Being a Better of Intercultural Children Dialogue Board Member Debbie Read Director Arts & Business East Midlands
Shona Powell Director Lakeside Arts Centre & Ellen Bianchini Festival Director Spark Children's Arts Festival
ROOM 1
ROOM 1
Launch of Festivals Mean Business 3
Dome Floor
15.30-16.00
Refreshments & networking
16.00-16.45 Practical Sessions ROOM 1 Online Marketing & Web Development Tools Chris Hopwood General Manager & Katie Atkinson Web Developer Arts Professional
These four 45 minute sessions will run concurrently
Read across for room allocation
ROOM 2 Broadening our Perspectives on Festivals: European Festivals Research Project Chris Maughan Festivals Research Arts Management De Montfort University
ROOM 3 Fundraising
ROOM 4 Student seminar
TBA
Celebratio – powered by secureticket
16.45-17.15 Open to all conference delegates
Festivals Mean Business 3: What It Means To You
ROOM 1
17.15-17.45
BAFA AGM
Shaun Romain Director & James Bluring Research Manager, sam BAFA Members
ROOM 1
17.45-19.30 FREE TIME 18.00-18.30 Optional tour of Buxton Opera House 18.00-18.30 50 places only, please book your place at morning registration 19.30-10.30
10.30-Midnight
Conference Dinner & BAFA Award Ceremony Conference Bar
The Dome
George Potter Bar Old Hall Hotel The Square Buxton, Derbyshire
Main entrance off Devonshire Road Five minutes walk, less this late of night!
SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER 2007 CONFERENCE ITINERARY LOOKING INTO TIME
TITLE
All daytime conference events will take place at:
The Dome University of Derby 1 Devonshire Road Buxton, Derbyshire
Main entrance off Devonshire Road
09.30-10.00
Registration, Session Selection & Coffee Conference welcome from BAFA
Dome Floor – Main Central Arena ROOM 1
09.30-09.35
09.35-09.40
09.40-09.45
Welcome from our Saturday Host Festival A word from our Sponsor
SPEAKER
Nick Dodds BAFA Chair & CE Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival John Wilson Chair, Buxton Festival Fringe Celebratio powered by secureticket
10.00 10.00-10.45
Conference Keynote Liverpool 08 Capital Fiona Gasper of Culture Executive Producer & Claire McColgan Executive Producer Liverpool Culture Company
10.45-11.15
Refreshments & networking
Short presentation by Derbyshire University: Events Management Course on student placements
LOCATION
ROOM 1
ROOM 1
ROOM 1
Dome Floor
11.15-12.00 Practical Sessions ROOM 1 Festivals Mean Business 3: What It Means To You James Bluring Research Manager sam
12.00-12.45 ROOM 1 The Dos and Don’ts of Website Design
Rik Gadsby Go Tiger
These four 45 minute sessions will run concurrently
Read across for room allocation
ROOM 2 Making Partnerships Outside the Arts
ROOM 4 Doing it all – the Art of Running a Small Festival
ROOM 3 Fringe Talking
Jo Metcalf Festival Director Salisbury International Arts Festival
Holly Payton Nick Keyworth Brighton Festival Artistic Director Fringe Manager Corsham & John Wilson Festival Chair, Buxton Festival Fringe Followed immediately by these Practical Sessions ROOM 2 ROOM 3 ROOM 4 Lifecycles of What Makes a Much more than Good Radio Festivals stand-up: Using Interview? Comedy for Audience Development Chris Maughan Jill McKenzie Geoff Rowe Festivals Research Journalist Director Arts Management Leicester De Montfort Comedy Festival University
12.45-13.45
LUNCH
Dome Floor
13.45 13.45-14.45
Investigating ‘green’ issues Panel Discussion: Anne Hayes Sustainable Events Head of Market – a standard is Development – being set. Sustainability BSI British Standard British Standards 8901:2007 Institute; Sustainable Event Dr Jennifer Cleary, Management Head of Creative Learning Manchester International Festival & Fiona Pelham MD Organise This
ROOM 1 ROOM 1
14.45-15.15
Refreshments & networking
Presentation on BAFA & 2008
Dome Floor
15.15-16.15
Panel Discussion: Sustainability in action: How Green Is Your Festival?
Jean Vidler Director & Sam Hermitage Green Futures Festivals; Steve Muggeridge & Brig Oubridge Big Green Gathering; Richard Haswell Festival Director Summer Sundae Weekender
ROOM 1
16.15-16.45
Buxton: small town, big festival
Glyn Foley Chief Executive Buxton Festival
ROOM 1
16.45-17.00
Conference Round Up
Nick Dodds BAFA Chair & CE Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival
ROOM 1
SPEAKERS Jonathan Mills Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival Title of conference keynote: The Future of UK Festivals Jonathan Mills took up the post of Festival Director and Chief Executive of the Edinburgh International Festival in October 2006. Until recently he was the Vice-Chancellor’s (Professorial) Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Director of the Alfred Deakin Lectures and an Artistic Advisor to the new Melbourne Recital Centre & Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, which is scheduled to open in 2009. One of Australia’s most experienced festival directors his previous posts have included Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Arts Festival, the Melbourne Federation Festival, the Melbourne Millennium Eve celebrations and the Brisbane Biennial International Music Festival. As a composer he is regularly commissioned in Australia and increasingly in Europe and the UK. His composition Sandakan Threnody for solo tenor, choir and orchestra won the Prix Italia in 2005. He graduated in music from the University of Sydney where he specialised in composition with Peter Sculthorpe. In addition to his work as a composer Jonathan Mills holds a Masters in Architecture specialising in Acoustic Design.
Tim Birch Information Manager, Euclid Title of first session: European Funding for the UK Cultural Sector EU (a brief introductory word on the charms and flaws of the EU for the UK culture sector). The EU's Culture Funding (2007-2013), including: A breakdown of the various opportunities found 'inside Culture', a particular focus on festivals (key opportunities explained), tips for the future (to 2013) & a brief word on other opportunities 'beyond Culture'. Title of second session: 08 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue Euclid's role as the UK's Cultural Contact Point for the EU & (of particular relevance) coordinator for European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (EYID) 2008, including: The back story for EYID, the UK's scheme for EYID 2008 & a note on 2009's EU theme. 1996-2006: Retained with The Guardian Media Group Ltd as a journalist and editor, working across print, online and broadcast media platforms. A broad portfolio but with a special interest in arts & culture. Multifarious freelance work alongside. 2007-present: Euclid. Information and Content. Mark Ringwood Director, Roots Around the World Title of session: The Unfair World? Visas Updates The whole issue of arranging Work Permits for visiting artists is undergoing a radical change as the UK takes the lead on an EU directive. What's the cost, how will it affect you, and are the proposals fair? Lively Yorkshireman with over 30 years of arts business experience covering all aspects of marketing and programming, as well as acting as agent and tour arranger for musicians from all over the world. Following his membership of the Live Music Forum he was seconded to the Home Office Taskforce looking into Managed Migration in 2006. Along with his wife, Sue, he runs Roots' which not only promotes cultural diversity by staging concerts in and around West Sussex but has also just embarked on a 2-year groundbreaking educational project called 'Dialog'. The Roots brand extends to a weekly 3-hour radio show broadcast all over West Sussex on Spirit FM. Mark relaxes by undertaking impossibly long cycle rides and drinking the odd bottle of New Zealand Pinot Noir. Steve Heap Director, Mrs Casey Music & FolkArts England Title of session: “…. But I don’t like Folk Music!” A positive view of why you could and should programme folk music at your festival. Steve Heap is the Director of Mrs Casey Music and the nationwide development agency FolkArts England. First involved in the country’s heritage of Folk music in the 1960s, he now works alongside many others who recognise and offer the immense benefits to communities available in the Folk Arts. Lorna Brown Head of Arts & Cultural Strategy, West Sussex County Council (Chair of nalgao) Title of session: Making the Cultural Olympiad Local The 2012 Games will be the biggest event in the UK for a generation, but will it just be about sporting excellence and how far is the national Cultural Olympiad going to reach into communities? In West Sussex, plans are already well developed to ensure the opportunities of 2012 bring local benefits. Lorna has over ten years experience in the arts in local government. She established the arts service in West Sussex after setting up the service for the Isle of Wight. Previously, Lorna managed a community arts organisation in Hereford, following a period with the first rural community development organisation in the country. Lorna is Chair of the National Association of Local Government Arts Officers (nalgao), after serving as Vice Chair, Secretary and Chair of the national county councils’ branch. As well as a DipAD, Lorna has an Open University BA Hons and an MA in Popular Culture. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Debbie Read Director, Arts & Business East Midlands Title of session: Good Governance - Being a Better Board Member The session will cover some of the key roles and responsibilities for a board member in the 21st century, including: legal, financial, employment, parting with board members and finding new ones & group dynamics. Debbie Read has been Director of Arts & Business East Midlands since 2001, and is a national governance trainer for A&B. Previously she was Head of Planning and Combined Arts at Arts Council East Midlands, as well as being a community arts venue promoter, a theatre in education practitioner, and working on sponsorship at the Dome. Shona Powell Director, Lakeside Arts Centre & Ellen Bianchini, Festival Director, Spark Children’s Arts Festival Title of session: Programming for Children The session will explore the challenges of programming for children in two contrasting contexts - the year round programme at Lakeside Arts Centre, and across a number of venues for the 2-week Spark Children's Arts Festival. Shona and Ellen will also share the benefits of partnership working through the Three Cities project, which brought international dance performances to young audiences over three years, and culminated in a new work for 4+ years, 'Telling Tales' Shona Powell Shona Powell was appointed in March 2002 as the first Director of Lakeside Arts Centre, the University of Nottingham's public arts centre and community resource. Previously Shona was for 10 years Director of The Lemon Tree, a multi-arts venue in Aberdeen. She has also been Director of Newfest 91 (a festival for children, families and young people in Newcastle Upon Tyne), Director of West Wiltshire Arts Centre, and has held a range of posts at Swindon Town Hall Studios, Chesterfield Arts Centre, and Sheffield City Council. Shona is Chair of Derby Dance, and a board member of Culture East Midlands, Cultivate, and NCCL Galleries of Justice. She is a member of the Greater Nottingham Partnership Strategic Action Team for Tourism, Leisure and Culture, and a member of the Tourism Panel of Experience Nottinghamshire. Ellen Bianchini Ellen Bianchini worked in children’s theatre in Merseyside, and in the Education & Outreach department of Leicester Haymarket Theatre for 8 years. She founded The Spark Children’s Arts Festival in 2003 in order to broaden the range of theatre and dance available to 0-13 year olds in Leicester and Leicestershire. The festival presents around 100 events each year, in theatres, schools and community settings, in a programme which includes national and international companies, and an extensive participatory programme. Fenella Barber Programme Manager, CHINA NOW Title of presentation: CHINA NOW - Brought to you by chinese whispers Fenella first went to china in 1991. She has lived and worked in Hangzhou, Hong Kong and Beijing, primarily in Beijing as marketing director for Clear Thinking, an information consultancy and mainland agent of the Economist Group. In 2000 she moved to New York to study at Columbia Business School before joining the advertising industry as a planner for a WPP Group company. She returned to London in 2004 and eventually fell into CHINA NOW, the largest festival of China the UK has ever seen. Fenella is deeply passionate about China and finding new and exciting ways for the UK and China to collaborate and learn from each other.
Adrian Bevan International Product Marketing Manager, VIsitBritain Title of presentation: Cultural Tourism - A real partnership opportunity in 2008 and beyond Adrian Bevan currently works as the International Product Marketing Manager at VisitBritain. He has specific responsibility for the development of cultural product partnerships to support VisitBritain's marketing activity overseas. Recently, he has worked on Britain’s international marketing strategy in support of highlighting UK culture in 2008. In addition, he has begun work on new ‘cultural tourism’ partnerships with organisations including 24 Hour Museum, Society of London Theatre, Arts Council England, CHINA NOW, British Council and Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. During his Britain tourism marketing career, spanning over 20 years, Adrian has held a number of overseas posts in Germany, USA and in the Middle East and India. Paul Brookes Creative Programmer for 2012 Olympiad, East Midlands Title of discussion: 2008-2012 Cultural Olympiad Paul Brookes has recently been a consultant to East Midlands Airport, as well as the Joint Project Director for Rivington Place, East London, a new lottery-funded centre for culturally diverse visual arts, which opens to the public in October 2007. Rivington Place will be the new home for the two principal stakeholders, Iniva and Autograph ABP. He was previously the Director of Leicester Revealed and the Leicester Expo, a three year cultural programme devised to assist the regeneration and profile of Leicester. In 2001 he was appointed the Director of Bradford’s European Capital of Culture programme and assisted the DCMS with an analysis of the legacies of the bidding process, which subsequently evolved into the setting up of the Urban Cultural Programme. From 1995 to 1999 he was the Chief Executive of Photo 98, the agency established to fund-raise, programme and market the Arts Council’s 1998 Year of Photography and Digital Image. As a legacy of the Photo 98 programme, he established The Culture Company and initiated a series of national conferences looking at the relationships between major cultural programmes, such as the European Cities of Culture initiative and the Millennium Festival, and the legacies for the arts, sports and sciences. Shaun Romain, Director & James Bluring, Research Manager, sam Title of session: Launch of Festivals Mean Business 3 Shaun Romain Former Director of Charleston Festival, Shaun has over 15 years experience working exclusively in the Arts sector. He has curated over 60 exhibitions and managed a broad range of projects throughout the UK. In the past 10 years he has worked with the Royal Opera House; Tate Modern and Britain; Hatton Gallery, Newcastle; Leeds University Gallery; University of Brighton Gallery; University of London and the Charleston Trust. Shaun has directed many of the larger sam projects and is currently working with MLA South East, the South East Renaissance in the Regions HUB and MLA South West analysing the usage of registered museums in the South by the schools which inhabit the region to develop a strategic database and online resource. James Bluring Armed with a degree in sociology and a background in business intelligence for a top-100 PR consultancy based in Brighton, James works with sam to manage and develop research-led projects. James aims to combine a passion for the arts with robust, reliable and relevant research to provide arts organisations with the evidence they need to better understand themselves, their client base and future directions. James has most recently been working with BAFA on the latest Festivals Mean Business study. Other projects include economic impact study for the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill, audience profiling for Brighton Festival Fringe and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, and cultural mapping of Wiltshire. Chris Hopwood, General Manager & Katie Atkinson, Web Developer, Arts Professional Title of session: Online Marketing and Web Development Tools ArtsProfessional is the UK’s leading arts management publication. The magazine is supported by the weekly APe-mail bulletin and the recently launch ArtsJobFinder online careers service. Chris Hopwood, General Manager, and Katie Atkinson, Web Developer, have played key roles in the development of a number of online services in 2007. The hands on break out session will offer ideas for how small organisations can make the most of the online marketing tools now available.
Chris Maughan Festivals Research, Arts Management, De Montfort University Titles of two sessions: Broadening our perspectives on festivals: The European Festivals Research Project & Life cycles of Festivals Principal lecturer in Arts Management at De Montfort University, Leicester, Chris has had a practical involvement in festivals for more than 30 years covering jazz and more recently comedy. He has completed several research reports on festivals including a major study for ACE and EMDA of 11 festivals in the East Midlands: Festivals – the Creative Region. He is currently coordinator of the European Festivals Research Project and for which he is completing work on public authorities and festivals in England as part of a 20 country, pan-European study. His other research interests are on life cycles of festivals and the emerging green debate. Fiona Gasper, Executive Producer-Arts & Claire McColgan, Executive Producer, Liverpool Culture Company Title of conference keynote: Liverpool 2008 – European Capital of Culture The much anticipated announcement of the programme of events and commissions to celebrate the city’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008. Hear direct from the team responsible for pulling together what is arguably the biggest and most important cultural festival of the decade. Fiona Gasper and Claire McColgan give it to you hot of the press! Fiona Gasper I have been part of the team delivering Liverpool 08 since 2005. Prior to this I have worked for a range of arts organisations across the UK as Executive Producer / Admin Director / and as an independent producer / consultant for a range of arts organisations, funding agencies and local authorities including Contact, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Nottingham Playhouse, Palace Theatre Watford, Youth Music, English National Opera, & GMMAZ. Claire McColgan Born in Corby, studied drama and media studies at Liverpool John Moore’s University. Became assistant director at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1992, and worked on their groundbreaking studio season with a special emphasis on developing new writing. Taught creative writing and journalism for the Young Women Media Project, one of the first ESF programmes in Liverpool. Was a freelance director for four years specialising in work with and for young people working with Action Transport in Ellesmere Port, Merseyside Young Peoples Theatre, the Bush Theatre London and Unity Theatre. Developed New Writing at the Everyman and directed their Youth Theatre. Became chair of the Everyman Youth Theatre between 1992-1994. Moved to work for Arts in Regeneration in Dingle/Speke Garston and developed drama programmes for young people facing exclusion Was seconded to Speke Garston to direct their Festival 400, a partnership with the National Trust and became the Arts Development Manager for that area producing award winning productions and developing the community arts programme which became the prototype for engagement in European Capital of Culture Worked as a consultant for Merseyside ACME, National Health Service and for Arts Council North West. Author of ‘Out of the Shadows’ the North-West Arts Board development plan for reaching excluded young people. Was the first person to be employed on the Liverpool Capital of Culture bid team as regeneration manager with responsibility for participation and delivered the winning bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2008.
Jo Metcalf Festival Director & Chief Executive, Salisbury International Arts Festival Title of session: Making Partnerships Outside the Arts The Salisbury Festival has developed a number of collaborations that are not strictly arts related - but do encompass the wider ideas of culture and community. The Salisbury Food & Drink Festival and the Living River Project provide the Festival with increased profile, year-round activity, staff development and additional income. Jo Metcalf will explain how these partnerships have been beneficial to the Festival. Originally from a farm in outback Western Australia – Jo began her career in the arts in London where she worked in the music industry – managing bands and a record label. Returning to Perth after seven years in London, Jo worked for a series of Festivals including: Fremantle Festival, Western Australian Screen Awards and Taste of the Nation Food Festival before joining the Perth International Arts Festival team in 1999. Jo became the Producer – Contemporary Culture & Film Manager and over the next six years programmed the Festival’s outdoor music programme and a four-month outdoor film season. Her directorship in Salisbury (2005-2008 Festivals) has seen major developments for the Festival – artistically, organisationally and financially. In 2008 Salisbury International Arts Festival will celebrate its 35th anniversary. John Wilson, Chair, Buxton Festival Fringe & Holly Payton, Brighton Festival Fringe Manager Title of session: Fringe Talking Holly Payton Sept 2003-present: Brighton Festival Fringe: Fringe Communications & Operations Manager August 2004-present: Edinburgh Fringe, Roman Eagle Lodge: Venue Director August 2003: Edinburgh International Festival: Concerts Manager Feb 2002-July 2003: Brighton Festival Society Festival: Coordinator and Events Coordinator Previous talks and panels spoken on: August ‘07 Edinburgh fringe: ‘How to Fringe’ with Fringe society, ‘World Fringe panel’ global Fringe managers & ‘New writing discussion’ with writers, directors and Programmers. June ‘07 Prague fringe: ‘World Fringe’ discussion organized by the Czech centre. May ‘07 Brighton: Discussion about Brighton Fringe November ‘06 Canada: CAFF conference (Canadian Association of Fringe festival) August ’06 Edinburgh Fringe: ‘World Fringe panel’ global Fringe managers. Sept ‘05 Dublin theatre festival: ‘Theatre shop conference’, Irish Theatre companies coming to Fringe. Nick Keyworth Artistic Director, Corsham Festival Title of session: Doing it all – The Art of Running a Small Festival As artistic director of Corsham Festival in Wiltshire, Nicholas Keyworth has developed the profile and impact of a small festival in a rural context. He sits on the executive board of BAFA with a particular interest in supporting the work of smaller festivals working in rural areas In addition to Corsham Festival, he is artistic director of Rural Arts Wiltshire, the county’s rural arts touring scheme and is on the executive committee of the National Rural Touring Forum – an organisation committed to raising the profile of rural touring in England and Wales. Nicholas is also artistic director of The Pound in Corsham which has recently undergone a £1.2 million refurbishment to create a 21st arts centre in a rural area. As a musician, he is a conductor, composer and teacher. He is an examiner for the International Baccalaureate Organisation and a senior examiner for Trinity Guildhall. He also works as an independent evaluator and advisor to arts organisations.
Rik Gadsby Director, Go Tiger Title of session: The Dos and Don’ts of Website Design A guide to the range of possibilities the internet offers and how to make the right choices for your organisation. Rik worked as art director in the product development unit of the Guardian newspaper where he was responsible amongst other things for the design of the Saturday guide. In 1995 he discovered the internet and left to join the team who set up and launched the award-winning ISP and content site virgin.net, where he stayed till 2000. Rik and his design team joined international internet consultancy Zefer and a year later he set up his own internet consultancy which became Go-Tiger UK Ltd - a comapny specialising in designing and building online business platforms for companies and individuals. Jill McKenzie Journalist Title of session: What Makes a Good Radio Interview? A question-and-answer session where you can find out what commercial and BBC radio stations are looking for in an interviewee - and how you can get your message across effectively. Radio runs in my family – my mum worked for the BBC for thirty years, and first put me on-air when I was about three! But I didn’t really consider a career in radio until I'd finished my law degree (and decided I wanted to be anything except a lawyer). A journalist seemed the natural choice, so I did an MA in Broadcast Journalism, and got some work at the BBC. My first full-time job was in a small commercial newsroom in Scarborough, and now I’m at High Peak Radio, working as News Editor and presenting a daily magazine programme. Geoff Rowe Director, Leicester Comedy Festival Title of session: Much More Than Stand-Up: Using Comedy for Audience Development Comedy is a useful tool to attract new audiences and increase attendance at your festival. Find out how comedy doesn’t have to be rude and alienate traditional audiences and how it can compliment what you do already. Geoff Rowe helped start Leicester Comedy Festival back in 1994 and has been involved in the annual event ever since. The festival, the longest running comedy festival in the UK, has a diverse programme including stand-up but also theatre, dance, exhibitions, workshops and music. It is this programming policy which generates a diverse audience of some 60,000 people. The 15th birthday celebrations will take place in February 2008. Geoff has also worked for a mid-scale venue and for Nottingham based Architects of Air. His career as a promoter started, much to the irritation of his parents, when he promoted his first concert aged 13.
Anne Hayes, Head of Market Development – Sustainability, British Standards Institute, Dr Jennifer Cleary, Head of Creative Learning, Manchester International Festival & Fiona Pelham, MD, Organise This Title of panel discussion: Sustainable Events – A Standard is Being Set Anne Hayes Anne Hayes has been at the BSI for 6 years. In addition to managing the output of standards she has for the 18 months been responsible for the Sustainability sector covering Environment, Energy, Food, Drink & Agriculture and Transport. More recently Anne has taken over the Risk, Business Continuity Management and Security sector as well. Previously to BSI Anne was Editorial Director at Sweet & Maxwell Ltd. Jen Cleary Jen Cleary trained as a scientist and completed a PhD in 2004. After a scholarship in intellectual property development and a brief stint as Innovation Manager in the NHS she joined Manchester International Festival as Higher Education Festival Manager in 2006 and has been responsible for the development of strategic and practical partnerships between Manchester International Festival and the City’s Universities. Jen was recently promoted to the position of Head of Creative Learning and alongside Ruth Mackenzie, has driven the Festival’s sustainability agenda and trial of a new BSI standard in sustainable events management. Fiona Pelham Organise This, is an event management company focused on planning events in a way that is environmentally responsible and community involved. Fiona represents marketing on the UK Meeting Professionals International board and is also on the programming committee for Green Meetings Industry Council. She is a chair for BS 8901 and Organise This was appointed to run the first trial of BS8901 with the Manchester International Festival in June 2007. Organise This is a founder member of Positive Impact, a not for profit project to provide education on sustainability to the hospitality and event industry. Jean Vidler & Sam Hermitage, Green Futures Festivals; Steve Muggeridge & Brig Oubridge, Big Green Gathering & Richard Haswell, Manager De Montfort Hall & Festival Director- Summer Sundae Weekender & Big Session Festivals Title of panel discussion: Sustainability in Action-How Green is Your Festival Jean Vidler Event organiser since 1986, founding Kingston Green Fair and fulfilling nearly all possible functions over the last 20 years, deputy co-ordinator Glastonbury Festival Green Futures field, director Green Futures Festivals Co Ltd, former director Big Green Gathering Co Ltd including a year as its Chair. Has consulted widely on achieving a greener event industry including with the British Standards institute. Current projects include setting up a new Environment Centre in Kingston upon Thames and trying to renovate a canvas marquee. Sam Hermitage Chair Kingston Green Fair, Director Big Green Gathering, Renewable Energy and Entertainments Coordinator of Big Green, Co-ordinator Glastonbury Festival Green Futures field, Co – Founder Green Futures Festivals Company, Co Founder of the Beacon Centre for Environmental Awareness. Operations director of London Green Lifestyle show. Current projects include setting up an internet radio station and building a mobile solar powered electrical generator. Steve Muggeridge Attending and involvement with the organisation of open air events and festivals of music and eclectic arts for over 25 years. Witness to the evolution of such events over that period. Organiser of many benefit concerts for Green causes. Occasional consultant to Medway local authorities on community & Green events. Director Big Green Gathering [2004 – present]; Director Maidstone Green Collective Ltd [2000 – 2003]; Organiser of Maidstone Green Fair [1994 – 2003]; Facilitator with Glastonbury Speakers’ Forum & Coordinator BGG Green Forum [1999 – present]; Chair – South East Confederation of Green Parties (European Parliament Constituency) [1999 – 2003]; Convener Green Party Conference [1990 – 91].
Brig Oubridge Brig Oubridge has over 30 years experience of festival organisation, encompassing the Windsor and Stonehenge free festivals of the 1970s and early '80s, the early Green Gatherings of 1980-84 and Glastonbury Festival Green Fields, before founding the Big Green Gathering (BGG) in 1993-4. The BGG has grown to become a 5-day annual event for 20,000 people, and the leading 'green' festival in Britain. He is also well known as a campaigner on environmental, peace and human rights issues, and is a former co-chair of the Green Party. Richard Haswell Richard Haswell was born and educated in Liverpool. After a year at school in California, he went to Leeds University graduating with a not terribly practical degree in English Literature. He spent the next six years in touring theatre, culminating in becoming national organiser for Jarrow 86, a new march of unemployed people accompanied by a large scale touring theatre show on the fiftieth anniversary of the original Jarrow March. Having walked 300 miles, he had a bit of a rest, and did all sorts of stuff (including writing a gossip column) In 1988 he then became Director of the Met Arts Centre in Bury, Lancashire and in 1993, Director of Phoenix Arts in Leicester. In 1999 he became Manager of De Montfort Hall Leicester. He founded the Summer Sundae Weekender in 2001 and has been Festival Director for all seven events and The Big Session in 2005, in addition to managing a programme of over 200 other events a year. In 2006 Summer Sundae won the award for Best Small Festival at the UK Festival Awards, and in 2007 both festivals were awarded ‘A Greener Festival’ kite marks for outstanding environmental practice. Glyn Foley Chief Executive Buxton Festival Title of presentation: Buxton: small town, big festival Some ideas to triple your audience and budget During Glyn’s tenure at Buxton Festival it has tripled its audience and annual turnover, breaking the £1m barrier in 2008. After study at the University of Wales and Royal Academy of Music he has since been involved in all aspects of music, including tea-making. He still finds time to play the bassoon, which can offer a haven of music-making, helping to put other issues in perspective! Away from music, he enjoys the luck of the cards at bridge, trying to find time to play squash and financing the education of the next generation. Nick Dodds Chief Executive Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival Conference Roundup Nick Dodds has been Chief Executive of Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival since November 2000 and is responsible for the artistic and commercial operation of both the annual Festival and the year round venues. Nick has overseen the refurbishment of the Brighton Dome and Museum, re-opened the Dome as the south coast premier arts and conference centre and has developed the Brighton Festival as a major national event. Nick is Chairman of the British Arts Festivals Association and a past Chairman of the International Festival and Events Association - Europe. Nick was previously Administrative Director of the Edinburgh International Festival where he was responsible for its financial, legal and operational success between 1990 and 2000. Over this time the Festival grew considerably and Nick established the Hub - the Edinburgh Festival Centre - a highly successful Lottery funded project, which was opened by HM the Queen in July 1999. Prior to the Edinburgh Festival, Nick ran Meteorlites Productions Ltd, an event lighting and technical production business, operating throughout the world, in the music and entertainment sectors. His early career was with Granada Theatres and as a production manager. Nick is 50 years old, married and has three school aged children.