Tomorrow, Today
Leading figures from the cultural sector, joined us for a FREE online series of talks and discussions from the 18th-20th August 2020.
The online programme explored the relationship between festivals, communities and placemaking post-COVID and includes practical advice/guidance on what festival organisers will need to consider in a new approach to staging outdoor events.
Programme
Keeping your Audiences Safe
Íse Murphy, an expert in crowd psychology, joined us to look at how people react post-catastrophe and how we can use this to predict behaviours and influence audience messaging before and during events. Shaun Roberts (Safe to Go) and Rebecca Phillips (Festivals Producer, Severn Arts) joined the discussion with industry advice, tools, and approaches you can put into action.
Local Authority’s Perspectives on Events
Helen Mole from Worcester City Council and Jonathan Cochrane from Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils joined Rebecca Phillips, Festivals Producer, Severn Arts to explain changes for event organisers post-COVID; including new documentation you need to provide, considerations on sites and permissions, and what H&S plans might need to look like moving forward.
Practical Advice for Event Design and Delivery
Freelance Event Producers: Anya Fox and Mat Ort with Katy Stone from OPUS Arts Events, joined Rebecca Phillips (Festivals Producer) Severn Arts at #TomorrowToday 3-day online event to share practical industry advice surrounding every element of event design and delivery, from food and drinks to ticketing, and from site builds to medical provision.
New to Outdoor Arts
David Edmunds, Festivals Director for Severn Arts joined 3 day event #TomorrowToday to provide some simple do’s and don’ts, handy tips on what works and why, and where to find good quality outdoor work.
Suitable if you are wanting to dip your toe into some live performance programming for your event.
What Role do Communities Play in Today’s Festivals?
From rainbows to nationwide clapping for key workers, COVID-19 has challenged and changed our understanding of community. Hear from leading figures who joined Severn Arts to explore the evolving relationship between communities and festivals from policy, artistic and academic perspectives. With Helen Marriage, Director of Artichoke; Rebecca Blackman, Arts Council National Director for Engagement and Audiences and Director for the Midlands based in Nottingham’ plus Dr Steven Millington, Manchester Metropolitan University, Institute of Place Management.
View Rebecca’s Presentation | View Helen’s Presentation | View Steve’s Presentation
The Future Role of Festivals in Community Engagement, Place-Making and Regeneration
Our panel discussion explored what the future will look like for festivals, and their relationships with their local communities; how will this change as a result of COVID? Our panel discussion in response to the Keynote speeches includes: Andrew Loretto, Hat Fair Director & freelance theatre maker; Maggie Clarke, Director of XTRAX; Paul Bristow, Arts Council National Director of Strategic Partnerships plus our very own David Edmunds, Festivals Director at Severn Arts.
Reflections from Early-Career Producers
A discussion with 4 early-career producers: Maria-Magdalena Mineva, Martha Henley, Owen Harper and Melissa Boyle on their reflections from the 3 days and their hopes for the future in terms of festivals and communities as a result of attending Tomorrow, Today.