News

AIF hits 100-member milestone

Landmark announced at this year’s Festival Congress in Bristol. The Association of Independent Festivals has reached 100 members. Eisteddfod Yr Urdd became the 100th AIF member in January, with the milestone being announced today (February 1) at the opening of this year’s Festival Congress in Bristol. An annual Welsh-language youth festival of literature, music and performing arts organised by Urdd…

Festival Congress returns to Bristol in February

Full programme revealed with speakers from Ticketsellers, Tysers, Attitude Is Everything, Beat Blocks, Bankier Sloan, TheWRD, Team Love and more.

TheWRD from The Ivors Academy announced as Festival Congress’ 2023 Educational Partner

AIF is proud to announce TheWRD from The Ivors Academy as Festival Congress’ 2023 Educational Partner. TheWRD team is proud of this partnership and looks forward to connecting with independent festival organisers in Bristol. 

John Rostron announced as new AIF CEO at 2022 AGM

John Rostron has been appointed as the new CEO of the Association of Independent Festivals.

The appointment was announced today during AIF’s 2022 AGM, with Rostron officially beginning his tenure on November 18 following a two-week handover period with current CEO Paul Reed.

500+ UK festivals and outdoor events unite to launch Green Events Code tackling climate crisis

Sustainable Event Summit to launch a Green Events Code, to establish national minimum sustainability standards, targets and practices.  

AIF Comment on today’s Mini Budget announcement

Today’s announcement from the Chancellor means very little for our £1.75bn UK festival industry. We’ve faced unprecedented challenges on increased costs, supply chain and low consumer confidence, with audiences facing a social emergency. This shows no sign of relenting as we look to 2023. What we need is an urgent reduction of VAT on tickets to 5% and an assurance…

AIF comment on new Culture Secretary appointment

Congratulations to Michelle Donelan MP on the appointment as Secretary of State at DCMS. It remains a uniquely challenging time for festivals as we look to the 2023 season. Although now fully operational, we are still in a recovery phase, facing an ongoing perfect storm of rising costs, supply chain issues, record low consumer confidence and audiences making extremely difficult choices…

Paul Reed to step down as CEO of AIF

Reed to exit in November after 9 years at trade body.

Notting Hill Carnival CEO Matthew Phillip announced as new AIF Chair

Phillip is CEO of Carnival Village Trust and Notting Hill Carnival Ltd The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has appointed Notting Hill Carnival CEO Matthew Phillip as its new Chair.  Phillip is the CEO of Carnival Village Trust, London’s leading Carnival development agency, which is dedicated to supporting and delivering an integrated programme of Carnival arts.  In addition to this, Phillip…

Over 100 UK festivals commit to tackling sexual violence

Boomtown Fair, Boardmasters, Reading & Leeds, Bluedot, Parklife  and Shambala among signatories of AIF’s Safer Spaces Campaign.   Includes updated Charter of Best Practice, plus new awareness and education campaign Find out more: https://aiforg.com/initiatives/safer-spaces 103 UK festivals have committed to The Association of Independent Festivals’ (AIF) Safer Spaces At Festivals campaign, which is aimed at tackling sexual violence at festivals and…

A statement from AIF CEO Paul Reed on the lifting of legal restrictions around Covid-19 in the UK

“While we welcome legal restrictions around Covid-19 coming to an end and the prospect of a full capacity festival season, the effects of the pandemic are still being felt by the independent festival sector and the need for Government action remains. With festival organisers facing crippling cost increases of up to 30% across operations and infrastructure, this is not back to business…

AIF announces full programme for Festival Congress in Bristol on Feb 15th.

AIF announces full Festival Congress 2022 programme for February 15th in Bristol  Speakers from Black Lives In Music, Vision Nine, NME, The Mighty Hoopla, Boomtown Fair + more confirmed. ————————————————————————————– The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) are delighted to reveal the full programme for our flagship Festival Congress event in Bristol on Feb 15th.  Alongside the already announced headline conversation between The F-List For Music’s Brix…