6th October 2022
I have come to the conclusion that instead of quoting lots of other peoples’ sustainability papers, the best thing we can do here is write a few words and point people at good websites. So, I suggest the following: Sustainability is without doubt the most important part of managing your festival. Once you have booked the artists, the equipment and sold the tickets, consider your sustainab...
6th October 2022
As we all know King Charles III, previously Prince Charles, ascended to the throne on September 8 on the death of Queen Elizabeth II. He was 73 years old and became the oldest king to take the throne. For those checking dates the current speculation is that his coronation will be in May or June 2023 with a possible date of Friday 2 June being the anniversary of his mother’s coronation. The ...
5th October 2022
The new government are receiving quite a lot of press coverage in view of the energy crisis currently with us (September 2022). Members will be aware that there is a plan to alleviate the pressure on domestic tariffs and a six-month period still to be properly defined for support of businesses. If your festival has office premises, storage units or indeed any gas, electric energy bills c...
30th September 2022
The Access All Areas Conference & Awards are taking place on 10 November. The inaugural Access All Areas Conference & Awards is an event born out of the necessity to raise key issues and standards within the live events landscape, split between educational sessions delivered by industry leaders and an immersive awards ceremony. Who can enter the awards? Whether you are representing a liv...
30th September 2022
Sustainability has always been a popular roundtable discussion at Event Buyers Live. It’s a key area of focus for live event organisers. Hence, this year’s industry event (November 28-30) will feature a workshop dedicated to sustainability. The sustainability workshop will be led by isla, an action-driven body that seeks to accelerate the event industry’s adoption of susta...
29th September 2022
Fancy a new job? Pennine Events are looking for an experienced Events Manager to help plan, manage and deliver some of the UK’s most exciting and largest events and projects, who must possess live, outdoor and mass participation event management experience. Find out more about the vacancy here....
29th September 2022
The annual industry showcase for the folk, roots and acoustic music in England. English Folk Expo returns to Manchester 13-16th October with more than 50 artists presenting, including the most diverse lineup yet. English Folk Expo encourages festival directors and organisers to gather together, discover great music, meet the wider industry face-to-face, speak with funders and cultivate new netw...
22nd September 2022
To the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Following two hugely disrupted years of closures, cancellations and Government restrictions, live music is once again bringing joy to communities across the UK. This summer saw one of the biggest weekends of live music in the country’s history with an estimated one million fans flocking to world famous festivals, classical concerts a...
22nd September 2022
The Event Industry Forum invites applications for grants for projects that will benefit the events industry. The Forum, which brings together 25 trade bodies and similar organisations from across the event industry, has funding available to support projects that will be of general benefit to the outdoor sector. Since taking over publication of The Purple Guide from the Health & Safety Exec...
18th September 2022
Hello Members and Colleagues It was with great sadness that the team at AFO office recognised the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest serving Queen in history. Throughout the following 11 days up to her funeral on 19 September there have been event cancellations, other events going ahead with respectful notices and a sometimes-overwhelming amount of coverage on national television.&nbs...
16th September 2022
Re: Members Online Meetings For those of you who were able to get to the online meeting on 15 September (24 members).We had a very interesting meeting and were able to give out plenty of news . We heard some good stories of how festivals had been in 2022. We were looking at the possibility of another members meeting prior to Conference, however, it is very likely that any s...
16th September 2022
DCMS have shared a business toolkit including visual assets for the national mourning period, and further details on the national moment of reflection on Sunday. Toolkit BEIS have created a business toolkit for partners, businesses, trade organisations, ALBs and the public sector during this time of mourning to show the country speaking with one voice of unity. If you feel it appropri...
13th September 2022
Face-to-face at last. After two years of virtual conferences the Association of Festival Organisers will hold a face-to-face Conference on Saturday 5 November at Fenton Town Hall, Albert Square, Fenton, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. The Conference will attract both AFO members and non-members along with trade and supply companies, panels and speakers from a wide variety of subject matter linke...
12th September 2022
If you don't enter, you can't win. ENTER HERE...
8th September 2022
Here is the latest news from The Showman's Show. Check out what they said... As the sun begins to set on a full calendar of summer events, we’re putting the finishing touches to this year’s Showman’s Show. Now just six weeks away, we are continuing to attract high calibre exhibitors with a fantastic array of products and services that are set to make it an unmissable eve...
7th September 2022
Recent correspondence from Chief Executive John Collins, might go some way towards telling you of the work that is being done on behalf of the live music industry, which of course, included you and your festival. See here....
6th September 2022
A Greener Festival is simply an assessment of how green your event is. You pay for an inspection and when you have had one, if you have passed, you get the badge. Then you can say to your customers ‘we are greener’. However, you might wonder why AFO supports AGF. For instance, Platinum Jubilee Pageant consulted with A Greener Festival to help make the event (known as PJP) the most sus...
6th September 2022
With the Covid pandemic behind us (keep your fingers crossed) we are now in a position to hold an AFO Conference face-to-face. Having checked in with a good number of members and tested how many wanted to come to such an event, I have come to the conclusion that a one day get together on Saturday 5 November will do the job. So, the date has been in your diaries for several months, I can now con...
5th September 2022
You have until the 30 September to recommend someone or some organisation for a public vote category in the UK Festival Awards 17th Edition. There are awards for: Best Large Festival Best Medium Festival Best Small Festival Best Family Festival Best Non-Music Festival Best Grassroots Festival Best New Festival Best Overseas Festival Best Metropolitan Festival There are also 12 other...
5th September 2022
Our good friend Paul Reed at the Association of Independent Festivals has decided to move on from his role as CEO of AIF and opens up the opportunity for a new leader of the Association of Independent Festivals. On behalf of all AFO members I would like to thank Paul for his generous sharing of facts, figures, information and teamwork in supporting the wider festival and events industry over his ...
