The number of UK arts festivals has exploded in recent years so it?s a good time to look at their place in the nation?s cultural landscape, reckons Nick Dodds.
The mighty Edinburgh Festival and BBC Proms may have come to an end but the British arts festival season is still in full swing with the joys of Ilkley Literature, Huddersfield Contemporary Music and Canterbury Festivals yet to come (to name just a few of the dozens of festivals taking place before the end of the year). The reason for a festival?s existence can be lost in the mists of history and for those of us engaged in producing festivals, sometimes it can be worth challenging exactly why we are doing this and whether it would be better if we stopped! Even if a festival?s raison d?être is still relevant it should regularly review its ambition. Take Edinburgh for example, where the International Festival was set up in 1947 in the spirit of reconciliation for a world torn apart by war (a purpose still just as relevant in today?s world), which is planning to take a long hard look this autumn at their competitive position in the world.
It?s the fashion these days for city marketers to invent festivals to attract tourists or to kick-start regeneration, but how do these ambitions fit with artistic aspirations or a community?s desire for local celebration? Can a successful and sustainable festival be created from anything other than a burning creative desire? Next month, over 100 UK festivals along with representatives of government, local authorities, arts councils, regional development and tourism agencies will come together to debate issues like this at the Festivals and Regeneration Conference.
Are Festivals really part of the creative industries? Certainly in many towns and villages they often represent the only local arts activity in the annual calendar and as such are an invaluable network of promoters. Yet funding support across the country is patchy with many receiving tiny subsidies compared with building-based arts organisations. What do the policy- makers see as the future for the Festivals movement? The conference may not answer all the questions, but it promises to be a fascinating debate.
Nick Dodds is Chairman of the British Arts Festivals Association and Chief Executive of Brighton Dome and Festival Ltd.
The British Arts Festivals Association Annual Conference will take place at The Sage Gateshead from 6 to 8 October.
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