AIF Initiatives
Drastic on Plastic
A digital campaign launched to coincide with Earth Day on Sunday April 22nd. For 24 hours, AIF member festival websites will be ‘wrapped in plastic’ for 24 hours to raise awareness of single use plastic.
Safer Spaces at Festivals
To raise greater awareness about sexual violence across everyone from audiences to artists to staff and volunteers - and to spread some key messages around "consent", about "not being a bystander" and to take a "zero tolerance" approach to all forms of sexual assault.
Festival Congress
Festival Congress is AIF’s annual flagship event and the largest gathering of independent festival promoters in the UK, attracting over 400 music industry delegates each year. A two-day conference and evening celebration and awards, the event offers unique networking opportunities alongside a platform for industry discussion and celebration. The conference has a progressive format, including the ‘Talking Heads’ TED x style talks, interactive workshops and fireside chats with industry experts. Following three consecutive sold-out events in 2014, 2015 and 2016, the Congress has rapidly evolved to become a fixture and must attend event in the industry calendar.
Access Starts Online
Access Starts Online launched at the Festival Congress in 2015 as a partnership with Attitude Is Everything.
Fair Play For Festivals
The 'Fair Play For Festivals' agreement was launched at the Festival Congress 2015 in partnership with The MU (Musicians Union).
Legal Highs
Working with expert drug charities and services, the AIF planned and organised a coordinated blackout of festival websites to raise awareness of legal highs on 05/05. The campaign involved 26 festivals and gained national media from the likes of BBC, Sky News and The Guardian, reaching 9 million people through websites and twitter.
Festival Fuel Tool
Festivals organisers can now use a free online tool to check their energy performance in less than a minute. Supported by AIF and produced by not for profit industry think-do tank Powerful Thinking, this simple tool asks a series of questions and provides the user with an energy rating based on industry benchmarks.
BBC Introducing
The AIF has a continuing partnership with BBC Introducing to place the UK’s top emerging acts with the most successful and creative Independent festivals each year.