Festival Sustainability Symposium: Facing the Sector's Headwinds

Hosted by Edinburgh Napier University’s , this one-day symposium will focus and explore discussions on the topic of festival sustainability, with both academics and industry encouraged to attend and participate.

The opening panel will be chaired by Prof Greg Richards, (Professor of Placemaking and Events at Breda University), and focuses on the challenges facing festival organisers, stakeholders and host communities. Prof. Richards has focused on festivals and destinations for a number of years. He joins us in his new role as a Visiting Professor of Edinburgh Napier University.

Panellists will include Dr Afiya Holder (Edinburgh Napier University), Prof Gayle McPherson (University of the West of Scotland), and Hazel Johnson (Hidden Door Festival). Between them our panellists bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise on the broad themes of festival sustainability. We will be welcoming audience questions.

Parallel sessions either side of lunch will focus on three sub-themes:

• Festivals and austerity: financial threats and cultural values
• Festivals and community: maintaining local relationships
• Festivals and the environment: current challenges and opportunities

The parallel sessions will run in the morning and afternoon (repeated), so you can attend two of the three.

The closing plenary will feature a keynote guest talk from Prof. Richards.

We welcome contributions from attendees to all parallel sessions. If you would like to present a paper, host a panel discussion, pitch a research idea or project for feedback, or seek collaborators for new work, we would love to hear from you.

You are not expected to repeat your slot in both parallel sessions, but please let us know if you would like to! Please look out for a call for contributions coming soon or send an email to express your interest to [email protected]

There will be an open mic opportunity for attendees to address the symposium directly before we close, building on the day's discussions. A networking lunch and refreshments will be provided. If the weather allows, we hope to enjoy our lunch outside.

Host or Publisher Edinburgh Napier University