Events

Campaign inspires urgent support for independent festivals

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Festival production company The Fair has launched a new campaign to garner vital support for independent events across the UK. 

The ‘Your Festival Needs You’ initiative is inviting people from across the events industry and further afield to speak about the value of festivals.

Additionally, the campaign is urging the public to take advantage of early bird ticket sales, talk to friends about festivals, and to share their passion for festivals online using the hashtag #yourfestivalneedsyou. Those wishing to support The Fair’s campaign can create a short selfie video to post on Instagram, tagging @wearethefair.

Artists, promoters, event organisers and more have already come together to share their favourite festival memories, including Radio 1 presenter and DJ Danny Howard.

Supporting the campaign, Howard said: “Festivals are vital to DJs and artists because sometimes that’s their window to be discovered. My favourite memories of going to festivals are going and seeing a DJ that I didn’t know I was going to see and absolutely loving it and becoming a fan.

“So that’s why it’s important festivals are here and they are thriving and you need to go to them.”

Up to 100 festivals in the UK could disappear in 2024 due to rising costs, according to trade group the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF).

“Independent festivals are vital ecosystems for innovation, diversity, and economic activity. As well as providing incredible experiences for consumers, festivals serve as unique platforms for artists who may not be heard otherwise,” said Nick Morgan, chief executive of The Fair and creative platform We Group.

“As we are already seeing with the cancellation of dozens of events this year, the festival scene is at serious risk. ‘Your Festival Needs You’ is more than a slogan, it’s a strategy for survival and growth. We’re calling on everyone who cares about festivals to unite, and support this campaign today.”