HAY FESTIVAL
Hay there Hay Festival’s new CEO Julie Finch talks to StandOut about her future plans and vision for the much-loved festival to Julie Finch, the role of leaders in A ccording the cultural sector is not only to steer through
difficult times, but it is also to nourish, develop, and deepen resilience to meet the demands of society, and the realities of external pressures. Her experience in shaping organisations based on a longer-term vision will be enormously useful at Hay Festival, as she guides the organisation through day-to-day operations in her new role as chief executive officer. Finch joined Hay Festival in August 2022. She was already familiar with the brand as a regular attendee at Hay Festival events; so, the opportunity to steer this “exciting” organisation was something she could not resist.
PRUDENT PROCUREMENT
Finch attended Hay Festival, which took place from May 26 - June 5, 2022. It was a beneficial visit. She is keen to make progress and plan “from a position of evidence” and is running an open consultation on several themes to decipher and discover what it is that Hay Festival audiences need and want. “This is a significant piece of work, but extremely valuable in assessing how we take forward the festivals of the future,” explained Finch. Finch believes that all cultural organisations are looking to find efficiencies. However, cost-cutting is not the only way forward. She would like to determine how Hay works, with whom, and to what end. Currently, the festival’s core team stands at 16 and expands with each festival. This is an already efficient way of working so efficiencies will come by “repositioning the whole of the operations” within the organisation. Value for money, smart procurement, and attention to finance will be key. “The cultural sector at large is facing huge challenges; Hay Festival is no different,” commented Finch, as she highlighted the importance of close supplier relationships. “To continue to operate, we will procure services prudently, maximise our ability to fundraise, and minimise the impact of the price hikes on the charity by factoring in the scale of our operations.”
HAY MAGIC
By the end of 2023, Finch hopes that Hay Festival will be repositioned around a new vision and strategy that will outline a future roadmap for the organisation. As a result, she believes that the Hay Festival brand will enter a new era, globally. She hopes to broaden the appeal of the festival to families, children, and young people but says that the “magic” of Hay Festival will still be experienced by audiences but simply intensified and designed to reach wider and further. Finch concluded: “Having worked in this industry for many years in different roles, it is clear to me that Hay Festival can be seen as a beacon for events. We must explore innovative solutions to balance audience engagement with environmental impact, engage with and provide access to audiences from a wide range of lived experiences, and ensure that the professionalism of the events industry is upheld. My leadership role will be focused on these principles in the industry.”
Image: © Adam Tatton-Reid
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