7th August 2017
Fantastic for Families is a year-round arts listings website and national promotional campaign to families, run by the Family Arts Campaign . Fantasticforfamilies.com will launch on 1st October and will replace the national Family Arts Festival, which previously took place during October. The Fantastic for Families website, promotional campaign and branding will help families to discover arts e...
7th August 2017
We were sad to hear that WellowFest in Nottinghamshire has been targeted by thieves. Do take time to review your money handling policy and remind your festival team to be alert and vigilant. See the full article on Event industry News. https://www.eventindustrynews.com/news/festivals-outdoor-event-news/police-appeal-30000-festival-takings-stolen/...
7th August 2017
Please see below links to updated advice from the Home Office which may be of interest. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/national-counter-terrorism-security-office and CPNI webpages www.cpni.gov.uk provide support for those that operate crowded places. This includes recently revised and refreshed guidance directed at site owners and operators written to help those ch...
7th August 2017
This course, the first of its kind when it started in 2008, has helped professionalise and validate industry professionals in Event Safety Management. It has been developed by industry for industry, and is now delivered in partnership with the National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA). It offers a comprehensive overview of events safety and helps you apply these skills to the workplace. Course...
7th August 2017
Dear Colleagues, It has been brought to our attention that there is a volunteer steward going around the festival scene who we would class as undesirable. He has already appeared and been ‘undesirable’ in at least two festivals. His name is available from the AFO office on receipt of a request. Steve Heap General Secretary, AFO August 2017 [email protected]
21st July 2017
House of Commons Select Committees have made their choice of Chairs for the various committees that do the background work. The ones involving music and the festival scene include Damian Collins, MP, Chair of DCMS. Rob Halfon, MP, Chair of The Education Committee. Angus MacNeil, MP, Scottish Nationalist International Trade and Communities and Local Government which is one to keep an...
21st July 2017
In March 2017, CCL enabled 25 leading creative and cultural professionals from across the world to explore the cultural dimensions of climate change and accelerate engagement with climate change in their work. Past participants from the festival industry include Michael Soro (Body & Soul), Vikki Chapman (Festival Republic) and Lyke Portvliet (independent, formerly ID&T). Find out more a...
21st July 2017
The sixty UK music festivals who have pledged to cut their event's environmental impacts by 50% with Vision: 2025 will meet onWednesday 18th October 2017 at The Showman's Show. The meeting is chance to network and share experiences with like-minded festival organisers, attend workshops with energy experts to learn more about increasing energy efficiency, cutting fuel bills and CO2 emiss...
19th July 2017
BBC Radio Scotland – members in the North of England and indeed Scotland may be interested to know that on 9 July, AFO General Secretary SH was interviewed by Radio Scotland from their Glasgow studios. Others involved in the discussions on the state of the festival scene were representatives from Queen Mary University and UK Music, amongst others. Discussion revolved around affordable act...
18th July 2017
It has been brought to our attention that some members have insurance policies that do not include any use of fire anywhere on their site. I strongly recommend that you check yours. For instance: Camp Fires Lantern Parades Torch Light Processions Fireworks Chinese Lanterns (which you really should not be using) Fire eaters and breathers in str...
18th July 2017
It looks like the Europeans may be sending us a little bit more regulation before we drop out. This may not be a bad thing. Read on for more information on the General Data Protection Regulation which seeks to create a harmonised data protection law framework across the EU and aims to give citizens back the control for their personal data whilst imposing strict rules on those hosting and proces...
14th July 2017
The following information is sent to event and festival organisers, event security providers and related associations to mitigate the risk caused by unlicensed staff. The SIA is investigating event security provider LS Armour Security Ltd of Barry, South Wales following allegations that the company supplied unlicensed operatives using fraudulent (cloned) SIA badges at festivals in the U...
11th July 2017
UK Music has launched the Wish You Were Here 2017 report into music tourism. The report features both national and regional figures and reveals the huge impact of music tourism on the UK economy. The number of people who enjoyed live music events in the UK rose by 12% in 2016 to 30.9 million – up from 27.7 million in 2015. Live music fans generated £4 billion in...
10th July 2017
The Hampstead Village Business Improvement District (BID) www.hampsteadvillagelondon.com/bid is considering holding a Christmas Festival in Hampstead Village, London NW3 at the end of November. In previous years a group of volunteers has put together a large-scale Christmas Festival which grew year on year to attract upwards of 50,000 with stalls, fairground, attractions, music ...
6th July 2017
Energy Revolution is the festival industry collaboration that turns audience fossil-fuel travel miles into a direct investment in renewable energy. This brilliant project is now a registered charity, meaning every donation made will go even further with GiftAid! Audience travel is by far the greatest contributor to a festival’s CO2 footprint, but Energy Revolution is turning this ...
21st June 2017
Are you a small festival and looking to have festival t-shirts printed? Folk Weekend Oxford are offering AFO members the opportunity to sell their festival t-shirts through the Folk Weekend Oxford online shop. Cat explains how it works: If any small festivals are in the position of wanting to have festival T shirts but not being able to afford the upfront outlay, I'd be happy to host ...
20th June 2017
The AFO Office has been contacted by Plymouth City Council with the following request: "Plymouth City Council is looking for a partner to deliver a high quality, mass appeal music event starting in 2018. The venue for this event would be the stunning and unique Plymouth Hoe with breath-taking views across Plymouth Sound, one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world. Plymouth Ho...
16th June 2017
A Greener Festival Expands to assess events and venues The Greener Event Award is launched internationally on UN World Environment Day. Environmental Assessment and accreditation to expand from festivals to include all event types, event venues and arenas. First assessment completed last week at the Spring Performing Arts Festival (NL). Amongst the first applicants are Confex, Showman&...
8th June 2017
On Thursday 4th May, AFO members from a range of different festival from around the UK attended an AFO Training Day at The Hawth Theatre, Crawley. The session was delivered by Andy Grove of HighGrove Events Limited who had tailored the session specifically to meet requirements specified by AFO members in relation to risk assessments and road closures. Whilst covering the basics of risk ass...
8th June 2017
The Farm Business Innovation Show is returning to the NEC Birmingham on the 8th & 9th of November 2017 and will be packed with the most creative products from 450 exhibitors, useful services and ideas, and 200 inspiring seminars from top experts in the industry - all at the 2016 Exhibition News Awards ‘Trade Show of the Year’ winning show! Over the two days the NEC will be packe...
