AFO: Working for and with festivals and events, supporting live arts

The Association of Festival Organisers (AFO) is a membership group of like-minded festival and event managers who believe in learning and teaching, sharing and networking to continuously improve the festival scene. Created in 1987 with a small gathering of people working in the community festival business, AFO now has over 250 members who exchange ideas and support one another to help develop our sector.

Are you a festival or event organiser, supplier, freelancer or student? If you have anything to do with festivals or events, yes anything, you should join AFO.

The AFO Office is open year round to offer you help and support. Contact us today!

AFO Conference February 2022

We are delighted to present our annual AFO Conference on 4 & 5 February 2022.

There will be training sessions as well as live panel presentations and speakers including suppliers, with opportunities for questions. We will interject the sessions with live music and also give Conference attendees opportunities to chat amongst themselves, ask questions of our speakers and panellists and do our best to present an informative and valuable Conference day.

The AFO Conference is open to members and non-members.

More Info

Sandra Surtees, Director Shrewsbury Folk Festival
"AFO membership is particularly good value and even more important these days. Covid-19 has nearly decimated our industry and the AFO is working tirelessly to help in every way it can...I very much appreciate all the work going on behind the scenes to help us come through the other side and thrive. Thanks a million."
Rowan Riley, Oundle International Festival
"What a great bunch you are providing amazing resources and support, especially during these potentially devastating times."
John Wirtz, Sore Fingers Summer School
"I really believe the AFO have played a big part in raising the standards of the UK outdoor festival scene."
Joe Heap, Towersey Festival
"Towersey has been a member of the AFO since its inception. It is without a doubt the most useful trade organisation we could ever be a member of. If you work in Festival or Events in any way, you really must be part of AFO. The advice, the advocacy and lobbying is worth the membership alone."
Geoff Leon, Festival Vision
"The AFO have played a major role in helping start our fledging business and since then the sessions, conferences and contacts are an integral part of our marketing strategy."
Alan Castle, Tenterden Folk Festival
"Many thanks to AFO for their tireless work lobbying the Government and supporting all our festivals especially over the last 12 months."