10
Sheffield
FESTIVAL MATTERS
5th consecutive sell-out as must attend event for
independent festivals relocates to Sheffield
DATE:
5-6 November 2018
VENUE:
The Crucible Theatre and
The Showroom Cinema
DELEGATES:
372
SPEAKERS
39
he Association of
Independent Festivals
(AIF) is the UK’s leading
festival representative
body providing vital support to
independent festivals including some
of the most successful and
innovative festivals in the UK such as
Boomtown Fair, Tramlines,
Shambala, End of the Road,
Boardmasters and Kendal Calling.
Festival Congress is AIF’s annual
flagship event and the largest
gathering of independent festivals in
the UK. Following five consecutive
sold-out years from the event’s
inception in 2014, the congress has
rapidly evolved to become a must
attend fixture in the festival industry
calendar and relocated to Sheffield
in 2019. Its success is in its
progressive and innovative format
with engaging panel sessions, TEDx
style quick fire talks, breakout
workshops and fireside chats with
experts and personalities.
Keynote speakers included
founder and creative director of
Secret Cinema Fabien Riggall who
“THE FESTIVAL
CONGRESS HAS
RAPIDLY
BECOME AN
INVALUABLE
FORUM TO
DEBATE THE
KEY ISSUES,
CHALLENGES
AND
OPPORTUNITIES
FACING THE
INDEPENDENT
FESTIVAL
SECTOR”.
took delegates through 10 years of
this immersive event. Daniel Webb of
Everyday Plastic outlined this
amazing project and what his
objectives were in saving a year’s
worth of plastic and transforming it
into a mural; and influencer and
blogger Zoe London talked about the
Instagrammable Festival and how
organisers can harness the potential
of the platform.
AIF CEO, Paul Reed, said: “The
Festival Congress has rapidly
become an invaluable forum to
debate the key issues, challenges
and opportunities facing the
independent festival sector. We are
also well known for dropping in
www.conference-news.co.uk
various speakers from outside of the
festival world each year to inspire our
audience and deliver unique insights.
“As AIF’s flagship event, it is
important that Festival Congress
takes place in a city that reflects the
vibrancy of the independent festival
sector. Sheffield has great venues,
the right vibe, a strong festival scene,
excellent transport links to the rest of
the UK and the potential for strong
partnerships. It was exciting to bring
a unique line-up of speakers and
topics to our new home in Sheffield
to celebrate five years of Festival
Congress and 10 years of AIF.”
The event returns to Sheffield in
2019.