Access All AreasAIF has announced a new series of conferences in conjunction with The British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM).
The series, entitled Festival Futures, will take place on 5th and 7th April in Brighton and Manchester respectively. The events are presented in association with ticketing partner Skiddle.
Topics for discussion will include the importance of multi-arts events and family content, the food revolution at festivals, connections between streaming platforms and ticketing, the importance of grassroots venues and connections to festivals and what the impact of virtual reality and other new tech on the marketplace could be. Event safety, festival finance, drugs awareness and the politics of participation are also on the agenda.
“We’re very excited to announce Festival Futures in partnership with BIMM and Skiddle,” said Paul Reed, general manager of AIF. “These conferences will have an extremely forward-thinking agenda, exploring the future of the industry from various angles at the tip of the 2016 season.
“From quick fire Talking Heads sessions to more in-depth fireside chats, we’re looking forward to an action-packed and informative couple of days in Brighton and Manchester this April.”
Confirmed speakers include Sammy Andrews (founder, Sabotage Media), Sarah Bird (director, Wild Rumpus, Just So Festival), Mark Laurie (director, NCASS), Mark Davyd (founder and CEO, Music Venues Trust), Nick Lawrence (CEO, NWN Blue Squared Ltd) and Andy Lenthall (general manager, Production Services Association).
Ben Robinson (director, Kendal Calling, Forgotten Fields, Blue Dot) and John Empson (promoter, The Eden Sessions, Wilderness, Citadel) will make the keynote speeches.