16th April 2021
GUIDANCE FOR UK FESTIVALS HAS BEEN UPDATED A new interim briefing has been published to provide support and strategic direction for festival organisers in the planning of festivals until the results of the Government’s Events Research Programme (ERP) and reviews on social distancing and Covid-Status Certification later this summer. The document, launched yesterday, build...
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15th April 2021
The Government has updated the online tool that businesses can use to determine what support is available to them to take account of the changes in support mechanisms. This tool can be used by businesses in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland: https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder Updated Support Finder for Individuals The Government has also updated the online ...
14th April 2021
HELP the research Pilots (and get AFO credit) Members will be aware that in order to get our festivals back up and running the Government have set up some research pilot shows. One of these is in Sefton Park ,Liverpool on 2nd May. Organised by Festival Republic who have put in enormous amounts of time and energy to get this show on for the benefit of our industry. Now they need our help. Th...
11th April 2021
Government announces pilot events to pave way for larger audiences at sport, theatre and gigs this summer The EFL Cup Final and an FA Cup Semi-Final are set to be among a range of pilot events hosting audiences as part of the government’s plan to get big crowds back this summer. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-pilot-events-to-pave-way-for-larger-audiences-at-s...
8th April 2021
Theresa Villiers, Chair of the APPG for Events, will be appearing on Radio 5 Live's Daily MPs Panel today around 11am, where they will be discussing vaccination passports. Theresa will be making the case that there needs to be a clear differentiation by Government between the Hospitality and Events sectors when considering these. She will also be appearing on Times Radio on Sunday mor...
1st April 2021
CRUCIAL SURVEY TO HELP FESTIVALS SURVIVE The UK's Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment is carrying out a short survey - #ReviveLive Music Survey - about people's live music habits before Covid-19, and about their plans to return to live entertainment when things reopen. The survey should only take a few minutes to complete, and by...
29th March 2021
Event businesses are being urged to bang on their local authority’s door and ask for further funding. Following many hours in conversation with Swale Borough Council, which is Stand Out magazine’s own local authority, the council now has a greater understanding of the plight faced by event businesses. And, as a result, has since launched a Top Up Grant to help those companies that d...
29th March 2021
So this is what you can do… TIC Roadmap Q&As (3).pdf...
24th March 2021
MP’s debate Events insurance… the match was a draw!! Culture minister Caroline Dinenage was resolute in toeing the party line even in the face of overwhelming evidence. MPs Steve Brine and Kevin Brennan led the charge with Jamie Stone MP opening the debate with a broadside shot. Others joined in but were unable to (visually )convince the minister that the gov backed insurance...
24th March 2021
If you were lucky enough to secure a Culture Recovery Fund 1 Grant from ACE you started out needing to use it by 31 March. If you applied for an extension then you must report it by 30 June. If you didn't your reporting should now be on Grantium by 31 March or you could end up losing the last 10%. Do it now....
23rd March 2021
As festivals and tours prepare for a post-pandemic restart, ecolibrium has launched an app to help artists and events tackle travel impacts today. Leaders across the industry, including Music Declares Emergency founders and Bluedot festival organisers, are amongst the first to champion the new App. The new, free to download app, has been designed to allow everyone working in live events to c...
22nd March 2021
BVEP (in which AFO has representation) have confirmed that following representation and discussions with DCMS and The Cabinet Office, it has been agreed that after March 29, when the stay-at-home restrictions are lifted, visiting a business event venue i.e. festival site for the purpose of viewing the venue for future use will be allowed even if the venue is otherwise closed at this time. It&rs...
22nd March 2021
Hotly debated now have your say. By 29th March. The government is reviewing whether COVID-status certification could play a role in reopening the economy, reducing restrictions on social contact and improving safety. COVID-status certification refers to the use of testing or vaccination data to confirm in different settings that individuals have a lower risk of getting sick with or trans...
19th March 2021
AFO recently surveyed Membership to discover capacities and results of CRF 1 and 2. We also asked what the most important thing was that the government could assist festivals with to help us get moving again. The results are as follows (approx. 39% of membership replied): AFO members play to approximately 1,138,115 customers each year. The total amount of money from CRF collected was £...
18th March 2021
We left …now they have got one!!! Digital Green Passport the European Commission has launched a proposal for a Regulation on the Digital Green Certificate to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Digital Green Certificate will be a proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19. ...
17th March 2021
You might qualify – you need to ask your local authority NOW 66 Councils who have given out Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) to those without Business Premises (it was 17, then 34, then 42, not it’s 66 and rising) Some of those councils’ grants may have closed but are still good examples to quote to other councils, of what they did. Others may still be open to appl...
11th March 2021
"Oh no! Not more questions" said the AFO Member. "I totally agree" said the General Secretary. I am asked questions every day by DCMS, ACE, PR Companies, The Press and Researchers. Please would you help me "keep the pot boiling" by giving me some figures, thoughts and ideas. We have climbed a mountain of ignorance and bureaucracy and turned it into a...
10th March 2021
As part of Symphotech’s Recover & Reopen programme, Eddy Grant, Director of Safety & Professor of Professional Practice at University of Cumbria, interprets the implications of the government’s roadmap for reopening the festivals & events sector. Recorded 8th March 2021. AFO Members can view this presentation and download the worksheets via our resource section: https...
10th March 2021
Another chance for a bit of support ARG Update The guidance on the ARG grant has been updated to specifically include tourism and events businesses that are not eligible for other grants. Local councils have the freedom to determine the eligibility criteria for these grants. However, we expect the funding to help those businesses which – while not legally forced to close – are none...
9th March 2021
Boris Johnson confirmed that the government are looking at ways that a vaccine certificate may work and that consideration will be given to those who are under 16 or cannot have a vaccine, for instance due to medical circumstances. ROBERT JENRICK says you can He has written to local authorities outlining that in step 2 of the Government’s roadmap (no earlier than 12 April) hospit...
