Image Credit: Julian Winslow
Rhiannon Davies
Senior Consultant
Rhiannon is an experienced consultant who has spent the last decade working in multiple roles across the cultural and higher education sectors, joining BOP in 2020.
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Arts festivals are a vital part of the UK cultural sector, with more than 1,000 taking place nationwide, but our research for the British Arts Festivals Association (BAFA) has revealed they are at a critical juncture.
The last commissioned study for BAFA was undertaken in 2008, and much has changed in the last 16 years. Responses were received from 92 festival organisations, representing a total of 101 arts festivals across the UK. The findings are clear: while festivals have much to celebrate—including the inception and growth of many new events of all sizes and art forms—support and change are needed to enable them to thrive, strengthen local communities, and boost the UK’s cultural economy.
Having navigated the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainty it created, arts festivals now face additional pressures, including the ongoing cost of living crisis, which threatens their financial viability. Yet, there are opportunities for transformation, including:
Recognising Festivals' Strategic Importance
Acknowledging festivals as vital cultural and economic assetsFostering Community Building
Leveraging festivals' hyperlocal nature to strengthen ties with local communities.Enhancing Education and Training
Equipping festivals with appropriate management skills and tools.Encouraging Peer Learning and Collaboration
Facilitating networks and resource sharing to support festival resilience.
These opportunities can provide resilience for the arts festival industry, helping support festivals in creating more connected, sustainable, and vibrant communities.
Read the full report below.
ABOUT US
EXPERTISE
A global research and consulting practice for culture and the creative economy
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BOP Consulting, in collaboration with Raybel Charters and Santra Consulting, was commissioned by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), together with National Historic Ships-UK (NHS-UK) to conduct a research study on the current state and needs of the UK’s historic ships sector.
Future Proofing Heritage
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our report for the British Arts Festivals Association paints a picture of a resilient sector that is surviving rather than thriving.
Festivals Forward
BAFA
BOP Consulting was appointed to outline a pilot for a Creative Worker Income Guarantee for Brighton & Hove, working on behalf of the University of Sussex and the ABCD Cultural Recovery Programme.
Cultural, Creative and Collective Recovery: Exploring a Creative Worker Income Guarantee
University of Sussex
The report on how global cities tackle climate change with cultural policies and programmes. Insights from the World Cities Culture Forum's latest report.
The Green World Cities of Tomorrow: Culture and Sustainability – Special Report Prepared for WCCF Global Conversation
World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)
Unique case guide is co-produced with the participating cities of WCCF, highlighting city examples and a global cities approach to evidenced-based policymaking.
Culture Counts: New Approaches to Evidence Based Cultural Policymaking in World Cities
World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)
Working alongside CRAIC, a new research and collaboration centre at Loughborough University, we conducted an extensive survey of virtual production assets throughout the United Kingdom to map the country’s growing ecosystem.
Mapping the UK's Virtual Production Ecosystem
Loughborough University
The World Cities Culture Report (WCCR) 2022 builds on the ground-breaking 2018 and 2015 Reports. It gives insights on the major challenges world cities facing.
World Cities Culture Report 2022
World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)
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BOP's contribution to the 2nd edition of the report UNESCO's Global Creativity Report, examining policies safeguarding the creative and cultural sectors.
UNESCO's Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity Report – Addressing culture as a global public good
UNESCO
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BOP’s updated Handbook for the Inter-American Development Bank sets out strategies for sustainability and urban resilience
Creative and Cultural Industries and Urban Revitalisation in the post-COVID era
Inter-American Development Bank - IDB
We investigated the potential impact of AI for European cultural and creative businesses. Explore the transformative opportunities AI brings to industries.
Opportunities and Challenges of AI for the Cultural and Creative Industries
European Commission
Research in the Gulf Co-operation Council States in collaboration with British Council and BOP Consulting helps identify opportunities for festival development.
An evidence-base for the growing Gulf festivals sector
British Council
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BOP’s report on creating a healthy night-time economy for the Nanjing City Government demonstrates the importance of cross-cutting policies.
Creating Healthy Night-time Economies in World Cities
Nanjing Creative Center
Findings from our work at Great Ormond Street Hospital reveals how visual arts enhance the patient, visitor, and staff experience.
Creativity in health settings
GOSH Arts
Our new report for UNESCO sets out the huge global impact of COVID-19 on the cultural sector. We estimate $750 billion lost for the CCI and 10 million job cuts.
Economic impact of COVID-19 on the Cultural and Creative Industries
UNESCO
New handbook 'Making Space for Culture' explores how world cities address the challenge of preserving cultural infrastructure while promoting growth.
How can cities make space for culture?
World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)
Our research for the National Trust suggests approximately 3,000 Grade II buildings at risk in urban areas and discusses the impact on heritage and communities.
Protect urban heritage to prevent growth in inequality
National Trust
Our review of the Scottish Animation Sector, commissioned by Creative Scotland, has just been published
Review of the Scottish Animation Sector
Creative Scotland
UK-wide study of visitor experience practice provides new benchmarks for cultural and visitor attractions
Sharing Operations and Visitor Experience insight
VE:Forum
Our ‘blueprint for growth’ strategy has just been published for the video games sector in the West Midlands.
What's next for a video games cluster?
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