The inaugural Festival Congress will take place on 17 and 18 October in Cardiff, Wales, coinciding with music event Swn Festival. Plans for the event were revealed by Rob Da Bank and Alison Wenham, AIF’s co-founder and chair respectively.
Bestival’s da Bank will form part of the speaker line-up alongside Jude Kelly, artistic director of London’s Southbank Centre; Martin Elbourne of Glastonbury and The Great Escape; and John Rostron, chief executive of the Welsh Music Foundation and co-founder of Swn Festival.
The Festival Congress will launch at the BBC Hoddinott Hall, Wales Millennium Centre, following the AIF annual general meeting. The second day of the conference will take place in Cardiff’s Angel Hotel.
The congress will feature a conference exploring issues such as programming, marketing, creative and immersive elements and sustainable event management.
The AIF said it expects up to 400 people will attend the event over the two days, which is being supported by the Welsh government and the British Council.
Da Bank said: "Everyone at AIF HQ is buzzing about bringing the Festival Congress to Cardiff, a city that knows how to work hard and then party, just like us lot. I really hope that it will become a key calendar event for the whole festival industry for many years to come and I look forward to being in the same place as all the best independent festivals in the UK."
Economy minister Edwina Hart, added: "Music festivals are a key part of our strategy to enhance Wales’ reputation as a destination for major events. Wales is already home to many successful events attracting a variety of different audiences, helping to draw in tourists and boost the economy.
"It is appropriate that Cardiff is hosting the first ever Festival Congress and I’m sure they will get off to a good start in Wales."
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