FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
CONFERENCE FOR FESTIVALS
‘A FESTIVAL CAREER’ 6 November 2013 Edinburgh Napier University
‘COMMON GROUND’ 7, 8 November 2013 The Scottish Storytelling Centre
Edinburgh Work Smarter:Stay Connected:Mean Business
FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
What is our ‘Common Ground’? Festivals come in every shape and size and they all record in some measure the pattern of cultural change. What is our common ground and how can we exploit it to maximise benefit? The 2013 Conference for Festivals at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 7, 8 November investigates this question with headline panel discussions and in depth breakout sessions. ‘What’s the point of festivals’ Why do we need festivals? Is it that we enjoy coming together to celebrate culture Or - is it more than this? Read our Arts Professional articles ‘Festivals in the Frame’ and ‘Festival Frenzy’ online at: www.artsprofessional.co.uk Cultural Impact Is long term sustainability only possible for festivals routed in their communities? Here today: gone tomorrow? What impact do one-off major events have on an existing cultural landscape? Cultural Value Arts and Politics—two worlds collide? What is the value of cultural identity, who measures it and how far can festivals exploit its potential?
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
Each year the British Arts and Science Festivals Association hosts ‘A Festival Career’ A unique event specifically designed for students and recent graduates interested in a career in festivals
and ‘Conference for Festivals’ The only conference with something for everyone working in the festival sector
and in 2013 BAFA visits Edinburgh Where have we been previously? 2012: London 2011: Leicester 2010: Brighton 2009: Cheltenham 2008: Liverpool 2007: Buxton 2006: Cardiff 2005: Gateshead Work Smarter:Stay Connected:Mean Business
FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
CONFERENCE FOR FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND The Scottish Storytelling Centre 7, 8 November 2013 The main two day Conference for Festivals starts on 7 November but traditionally we have a social programme the evening before. A chance for everyone to meet up before the serious business of the main conference begins Check into your hotel first or come along after work Join in when you can - at any point in the evening
Wednesday 6 November
17.30-18.30: Conference Welcome ‘Tea Party’ @ The Hub Tea and cake and meet the delegates who have arrived in town 18.30-22.30: Selection of social events including: 18.30 Hidden Gems—a walking tour of Edinburgh led by James McVeigh, Festivals Edinburgh 22.00/22.30: Late night supper: City Restaurant, 35 Nicolson Street Edinburgh EH8 9BE Join us when you can!
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
CONFERENCE FOR FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND The Scottish Storytelling Centre 7, 8 November 2013 DAY ONE Thursday 7 November 10.00-10.30: Registration and coffee 10.30-11.00: Pre-conference discussion ‘What’s the point of festivals’ BAFA has been hosting an on-line Twitter debate on this topic. #thepointoffestivals Find out what main themes have emerged and offer up your own thoughts prior to the main conference debate
11.00-11.15: Welcome from our Venue Host:
The Scottish Storytelling Centre The Scottish Storytelling Centre is a vibrant arts venue located on Edinburgh's Royal Mile with a programme of live storytelling, theatre, music, exhibitions, family events and workshops happening all year round
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
11.15-12.15
‘What’s the point of festivals?’ Why do we need festivals? Is it that we enjoy coming together to celebrate culture Or - is it more than this? BAFA has been hosting a pre-conference Twitter debate #thepointoffestivals with the support of Arts Professional and we bring forward the themes from the on-line debate and the pre-conference discussion earlier today Read our Arts Professional articles ‘Festivals in the Frame’ online at: www.artsprofessional.co.uk
Leading this debate our international panel is: Johan Moerman, Rotterdam Festivals Michael White, Journalist Alasdair Nicolson, St Magnus International Festival and Bath International Music Festival Johan Moerman is a specialist in the concepts that optimise the cooperation between cities and event producers and maximum results for both. Festivals help cities to strengthen their attractiveness and image, to increase the number of tourists, to increase community pride and to develop neighbourhoods. Michael White was once voted Britain's least boring music critic by listeners to Classic FM – an accolade of sorts – Michael began writing for the Guardian and now contributes to the Daily Telegraph and New York Times. ‘Festival fatigue: it sounds something Ebenezer Scrooge would suffer from: ‘Having a good time? Dancing in the street? Are there no workhouses, no prisons?’ writes Michael in the October edition of Opera Now. Alasdair Nicolson is one of Scotland’s leading composers whose music has been performed, commissioned and broadcast all over the world. Beyond composing he has a strong commitment to programming, education and new work and is currently Artistic Director of St Magnus International Festival and Bath International Music Festival.
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
12.15-13.15 Multi-choice breakout sessions Micro broadcasting Broadcasting from a festival? Charles Denscombe, pioneer in the field of live broadcasting and the festival sector, will lead this session looking at the both the technology and the potential for this emerging platform for extended audience engagement using active case studies Family audiences New initiatives in attracting a family audience The Family Arts Campaign, launched earlier this year, is a large scale national collaborative programme led by the visual and performing arts sectors to increase levels of arts engagement by families. Alastair Tallon, Campaign Manager will be introducing the new Family Arts Standards that are at the core of this campaign. Research Big data - is this the way forward? Richard Fletcher from De Montfort University leads this investigation into the power of collective research. Everyone is collecting data these days—what is the potential for collaborative analysis? How often does your organisation undertake research and what happens to that data afterwards? 13.15-14.00: Lunch - with live performance
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
14.00-14.30
FESTIVAL AWARDS Outstanding Contribution to British Arts & Science Festivals Previous recipients: 2012: Stewart Collins, Henley & Petworth Festivals 2011: Tania Harrison, Latitude Festival 2010: Richard Phillips, Leamington Music Festival Weekend 2009: Michael and Emily Eavis, Glastonbury Festival 2008: Nick Dodds, Brighton Festival 2007: Judith Serota, Spitalfields Festival
Exceptional Service Award For significant sustained performance characterised by unusual initiative. This is the third year of this award and it is designed to recognise the people who work, often in an unheralded capacity, for a BAFA Festival either directly or indirectly. They may be in a paid or unpaid role. They may have only worked with the festival for one season or been its backbone for decades - BUT– they stand out for their exceptional dedication and unstinting effort in everything they do. Past recipients have been: 2012 Peter Williams, Canterbury Festival Robert Stripe, Cambridge Summer Music Festival 2011 Jenny Paddock, Bewdley Festival Stan Knowles, Chester Summer Music Festival
followed by the BAFA AGM
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND .
14.30-14.45: Welcome to the afternoon programme with:
Festivals Edinburgh Festivals Edinburgh is the high-level organisation created in 2007 by the Directors of Edinburgh’s 12 major festivals to lead on their joint strategic development and maintain their global competitive edge.
14.45-15.45
Cultural Impact Is long term sustainability only possible for festivals routed in their communities? How do ‘parachuted’ festivals fit into our cultural landscape? What impact do one-off major events have on the existing cultural offer? Leading this debate we have our speakers:
James McVeigh, Festivals Edinburgh Stella Hall, Festival of Thrift Robert Palmer, Cultural Commentator James McVeigh joined Festivals Edinburgh following senior management roles with a number of organisations including Arts Council England, Salisbury International Festival and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society. He also sits on the board of New Media Scotland, the national development agency that supports emergent artistic practice Stella Hall has a passion for bringing people and place together through shared creative experiences and has worked on many festivals including: Enchanted Parks, EAT! Festival, Juice Festival and the ancient Preston Guild. As well as Festival of Thrift Stella is currently Creative Producer at Media City, Salford Robert Palmer is an independent expert consultant in the cultural field, with considerable international experience. Areas of specialist expertise include cultural policy and strategy, organisation and management, intercultural integration, cultural rights, cultural festivals and events, art and conflict reconciliation, culture-led urban regeneration and European Capitals of Culture.
15.45-16.00 Refreshments
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
16.00-17.00 Multi-choice breakout sessions Volunteers Festival volunteering: Fun or fundamental? This workshop is an opportunity for you to learn about Voluntary Arts’ resources and share your experience in relation to volunteer recruitment, support and development. What we would also like to find out, is who your festival volunteers are, what they do, why they do it and how Voluntary Arts could better support festival volunteering in the future Science communicators What can science bring to an arts programme? The arts are a great way to get people thinking about science in a non-traditional way. What is the role of a science communicator and how can science fit into a arts festival programme? How do you create an engaging, understandable and entertaining event? Blogging Not so much ‘how to’ but ‘why?’ Does your organisation blog? Blogging puts a human face on your organisation, differentiates you from your competition and educates your audience. With so much essential social media to handle, experienced blogger Emily Dodd examines if it really necessary to find the time to blog as well?
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND 17.00-17.15
Round up with
Jonathan Holloway, Perth Festival The 10 traits of a 21century festival 17.15-19.30 Free time 19.30-20.00 Pre-party drinks The Mitre, 131 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SG
en-route to:
20.00-late Conference Feast @ The Hub Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE *food, drink, dancing*
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
CONFERENCE FOR FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND The Scottish Storytelling Centre 7, 8 November 2013 DAY TWO Friday 8 November 10.30-11.00: Registration and coffee 11.00-11.15: Welcome with our Host for the day:
Scottish Events and Festivals Association The Scottish Events & Festivals Association is the official trade body in Scotland providing leadership and representation for organisers, promoters and suppliers involved in the festivals, events and tourism industry throughout Scotland and the UK
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
11.15-12.15
Cultural Value Arts and Politics—two worlds collide? What is the value of cultural identity and how far can festivals exploit its potential? What is the partnership potential between the arts and the political environment and is it only ever one sided? with: James Waters, Lammermuir Festival Dr Donald Smith, Scottish Storytelling Festival Dr Tiffany Jenkins, Journalist Dr Kim Minke, Danish Cultural Institute James Waters is Director of the Lammermuir Festival in Scotland as well as the Creative Director of Classical Music at Perth's Concert Hall and Theatre. With 30 years experience as a cultural manager, festivals are his specialism. Dr Donald Smith is Director of the Scottish Storytelling Centre which he founded in 1996. A storyteller, playwright, novelist and performance poet he was also a founding Director of the National Theatre of Scotland and first Chair of the Literature Forum for Scotland. In addition to his creative work Donald has written and lectured widely on Scotland’s cultural and religious life, past and present. Dr Tiffany Jenkins is a sociologist, writer and cultural commentator, who splits her time between London and Edinburgh. She is a regular broadcaster and a contributor to the broadsheet press on arts and cultural issues including a column for The Scotsman newspaper. Dr Kim Minke is Danish, and heads up the Danish Cultural Institute. The Danish Cultural Institute promotes the exchange of ideas, opinions and information between Denmark and the UK. The Institute arranges Danish cultural events in the UK in order to bring Danish cultural experiences of highest quality to the British people.
12.15-12.30 Refreshments
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND 12.30-13.30 Multi-choice breakout sessions Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy Encouraging leadership and entrepreneurship in the arts An intro to the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Programme: Encouraging leadership and entrepreneurship in the arts this session will give an overview of the three-year Programme, which will offer people across the arts and cultural sector training, traineeships, coaching, and digital skills development to encourage innovative and effective practice in arts fundraising and encourage a more entrepreneurial approach to income generation. Stakeholder mapping Developing strategies There are few things that are more important than understanding and managing your stakeholders. James McVeigh from Festivals Edinburgh leads this session which looks at ways to measure the level of interest of your stakeholders and the power they have to influence your decision making processes. Accessibility Solutions not problems The aim of the first Get Inclusive Arts Festival in Aberdeen earlier this year festival was to bring together people with a range of backgrounds and abilities. Jacob Adams, Festival Manager for Attitude is Everything will lead the discussion with Philippa Roberts from Mixed Fish, who was instrumental in the Get Inclusive Festival. Looking at what ‘inclusion’ and ‘access’ really means for your organisation/festival, Jacob will also discuss the Attitude is Everything Charter of Best Practise.
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FESTIVALS: COMMON GROUND
13.30-14.30 Lunch - with live performance 14.30-16.30 Festival site visits We leave the Scottish Storytelling Centre to explore this ‘Festival City’ with three different festival site visits including a site specific visit with Edinburgh Arts Festival who will be talking about their offsite commissioning work
16.00/16.30-17.00 Farewell drinks @ The Hub
NEXT YEAR?
2014 Canterbury Festival will be our host See you there!
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