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AIF Expands Annual Festival Congress
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By Ryan Moss
- 20 Dec 2024
- 4 min read
Image: Danny Howe / Unsplash.com
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has revealed exciting plans for its annual Festival Congress, which will now span two days for the first time. Scheduled for 5–6 February at Bristol Beacon, the expanded format offers even more opportunities for networking, knowledge-sharing, and innovation, with a dedicated focus on supporting emerging talent and fostering collaboration within the independent festival sector.
A cornerstone event for festival professionals, the Congress will feature lightning talks, interactive workshops, and panel discussions tackling key industry topics. These will include the Value of Independence, Degrowth, Festival Discovery, and Martyn’s Law. The program will conclude with a compelling panel featuring organisers revitalising events after fallow years or introducing new ventures, providing attendees with valuable insights and inspiration.
The addition of the second day underscores AIF’s commitment to strengthening the festival community and nurturing the next generation of professionals. This new day will focus on creating meaningful connections through extended networking opportunities, as well as an open session designed for young talent and students, developed in partnership with BIMM Bristol. By expanding the event, AIF aims to provide a more comprehensive platform for collaboration and support across all levels of the industry.
Attendees can also look forward to three tailored networking sessions catering to specific sectors: one for multi-venue festival organisers, another for Welsh festivals, and a third for event production agencies. To cap off the event, an after-party at Lost Horizons, hosted in partnership with Togather, will offer a relaxed environment for further networking and celebration.
Reflecting on the challenges of the past year, AIF CEO John Rostron acknowledged the resilience of the independent festival community in the face of record cancellations. “This event never fails to make me proud of our community,” Rostron shared. “The Festival Congress is not just a place to discuss challenges and exchange ideas—it’s a powerful reminder of the strength, creativity, and solidarity that define us.”
With over 150 industry professionals already registered, this year’s Festival Congress promises to be a must-attend event, bringing the independent festival sector together to celebrate its achievements, confront its challenges, and shape its future.
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