What does AFO do?

AFO is working for and with the festival and event industry.

The AFO was started in 1987 when a group of festival organisers came together to exchange views and ideas.  It was clear that supporting each other was a good way forward for the whole of the festival scene.

From 2004 to 2009 Arts Council England provided considerable funding for a variety of projects, including training and a Conference.  This funding has now come to an end and the AFO is once again an independent organisation, operating from Matlock in Derbyshire, with a nationwide brief.

The AFO continues to develop and grow, providing support for its members and a voice for the festival and events industry.

Our current priorities are:

• Writing and collating new resource documents for publication on the AFO website.
• Continuing to stay close to the revisions of the 2003 Licensing Act and keep members informed.
• Working with a sub-group to develop an ‘AFO Code of Best Practice’ and will be publishing this shortly.
• Staying in contact with the All Party Parliamentary Group supporting our events and other similar organisations in Government circles.
• Working closely with Visit Britain to establish a strong link between our events and the UK Tourist industry.
• Continuing to approach the media and raise awareness of festivals wherever possible.
• Raising funds to continue the annual AFO Conference.
• Working with members and others to further widen the membership of AFO to the benefit of all.
• Continuing to be a source of information gathering and dissemination and advice though email, telephone and personal meetings, so supporting the festival industry in the UK.