28 Jan 2010 - BAFA away Day

Today we had an all day meeting to discuss the issues with how to move BAFA as an organisation forward.

Its a great membership organisation and it has a fantastic annual conference, I have been to 3 now and I love them. The most amazing Networking and relationship building there is to have on the UK festival scene

The 'away day' was structured by a mediator, who helped us all channel our thoughts and most importantly - stick to the agenda.

We got through a lot, by the end of the day we were all flagging and speaking slower. Great bunch of people, I wanted a vino after all that thought and planning skills.. but alas we all departed at 5 and I got on a train home.

On the board are...

Stewart Collins	Artistic Director, Henley and Petworth Festivals
Executive:
Juliet Abrahamson	Artistic Director, Cambridge Summer Music Festival
Jonathan Holloway	Artistic Director & Chief Executive, Norfolk & Norwich Festival
Clair Greenaway	Executive Director, Cheltenham Literature Festival Cheltenham
George Vass	Artistic Director, Presteigne Festival of Music & the Arts
Caroline Peacock	Festival Manager, Salisbury International Arts Festival
Dan Whitfield	Head of Artistic Planning, Aldeburgh Music
Jackie Westbrook	Marketing & Communications Director, Edinburgh International Festival
Lindsey Dear	General Manager, City of London Festival
Coopted:
Holly Payton	Manging Director, World Festival Network
Sian Thomas	Artistic Director of Celebrations

20 Jan 2010 - BAFA ACE

Today I am in London to meet up with BAFA (British Arts Festival Association) Kim & Lizzy the Administrators are so lovely and I am off to see their new office. It is so central yet so small, expected I would imagine due to Central London office space prices. It's lovely anyway and they are loving having their own space at last, after hot desking it for a few years.

We discuss the conference (last November) and start to think about the next one in Brighton. We also talk about how the World Festival Network fits in with BAFA and how we can help each other.

I walk from Trafalgar Square to the Arts Council England Offices, past downing street, the London eye, the river. I really didn't know that those 3 areas of London linked in together, amazing what you miss when you get the tube. It's a lovely sunny day so walking is good!

I have been taken on as an Arts Council Assessor, which means I get to go and see productions and tell the Arts council what i think of the experience, quality etc. Lovely job and lovely people doing it too. Cant wait to see what i am covering, on the pilot I found my self assessing Ralph Fiennes at the Chichester Festival theatre...

18 Jan 2010 - Brighton Board Meeting

I used to live in Brighton for 8 years and only moved out in 2008 so going down is always a pleasure, I get to see my friends, see my festivals and talk about how it's future looks. I call it 'my festival' it isn't mine, but I hold it so close to my heart as I was there at it's conception (as we know it today) in 2002 and ran it on my own until Nick came on board in 2005. We then jointly managed it till i left in 2008... but it's OK i went onto the board straight away so I haven't really left.

The future is Bright-on (sorry!). Heather, our chair, is so proactive and really bringing it forward with strategy and budgets etc. we are developing ideas and strategy's for everything at the moment, communication, marketing, staff, the office.... (they need a bigger one).

I feel it has really established itself on the Fringe map now, but it needs to more particularly for international performers and reputation.

Lovely Brighton!

16 Jan 2010 - London Fringe

Went to meet the Organisers group for the new and coming up London Fringe. We met in the BFI bar on the sofas out the back, actually a great place to meet on a weekend during the day. It wasn't busy and they do great coffee!

I met Greg first, I have met him before, and we caught up on the structure, how it would work and the dates etc. I must admit his idea for the structure is 'different' but I am intrigued to see if it will work and looking forward to meeting the recruits.

The festival infrastructure is genre and award lead, so each person on the organisers group has a genre and will deal with enquiry from that type of performer. They will also head up, or be a part of the award that goes with that genre. All the organisers are voluntary and enthusiasts in their field.

I mainly sat and listened while this fiery and passionate group of people thrashed through a few issues (website, logo, marketing, funding etc)

I suggested, after 3 hours of talk, that we come up with what we all thought would be our 'next steps' (I have to call them this as Greg doesn't agree with the terms 'to do list', strategy or planning...) everyone had some work to get on with and we will feed back via group email on our progress.

One item on my 'to to list' (hehe) was to let the producers know that the festival was happening. to be honest I was itching to write some strategies, budgets, time lines, marketing & Business plans but if you can't write a to do list, you sure as hell can't write a business plan.

Greg's way of working is unique it's about what we should be doing NOW and where we should be NOW rather than always looking into the future and never getting there. If it works it will be great, he is excellent at talking the festival up and getting some amazing organisers, partners and venues.

London fringe is in August (same dates as Edinburgh - it's OK it's not against Edinburgh! it's so anyone who doesn't want to go to Scotland can do London and some performers can do both and make it a tour. I think there are enough performing company's to go round if you ask me) and it is one to watch! www.londonfestivalfringe.com