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How the Festival of Ideas works

How the Festival of Ideas works. Information for new internal and external event co-ordinators and speakers. Public Engagement team. Introduction. B egan in 2008 Arts, humanities and social sciences 18,500 visits in 2013 (general audience of all ages) 215 events with over 170 free events.

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How the Festival of Ideas works

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  1. How the Festival of Ideas works Information for new internal and external event co-ordinators and speakers Public Engagement team

  2. Introduction • Began in 2008 • Arts, humanities and social sciences • 18,500 visits in 2013 (general audience of all ages) • 215 events with over 170 free events

  3. Public Engagement team • Nicola Buckley, Head of Public Engagement • Dane Comerford, Public Engagement Events Manager • Malavika Anderson, Festivals and Outreach co-ordinator (Arts, humanities and social sciences) • Emily White, Festival Assistant • Sue Long, Festivals and Outreach co-ordinator • Shelley Bolderson and Lucy Spokes: Science Festival • Lloyd Mann, Online events assistant • Ellen Thornton, Bridge the Gap, Festivals and Outreach Officer • Temporary staff – marketing and PR (2 months each)

  4. Who runs the events? • 30 - 40 centrally organised events • 130 internal event co-ordinators (Outreach Officers, Faculty Administrators, Museum staff) • 30 external event co-ordinators (local businesses, Higher Education providers, community groups)

  5. What’s the point? • To generate public interest in the arts, humanities and social sciences • To promote year-round access to museums and other University of Cambridge resources relevant to the arts, humanities and social sciences • To engage with the Cambridge community, reach new audiences and build lasting relationships with new groups and organisations • To contribute towards the University’s widening participation aims by providing events for school pupils at primary and secondary level • To secure media coverage of the academics and partners involved with the Festival • Because it is fun!

  6. How is it funded and what is the money spent on? • Supported through core University funding, corporate sponsorship, charitable trusts and in-kind support • Most departments provide rooms, staff time and equipment for free (advice on finding support for your events can be found here). Some departments / organisations seek sponsorship or grants to support their participation. • The Festival of Ideas central team have a budget that covers: • Volunteer T-shirts • Overall marketing for the Festival • Small contributions to support departmental events • Celebrity speaker expenses • Publicity materials production • Venue hire • Website, new media, videos

  7. What does the central team do? - Organise over 30 events: invite celebrities and speakers, research new topics, attend other events, book venues, organise logistics, work with community groups and partners - Keep event co-ordinators up-to-date via email and meetings, provide support and guidance - Fundraising - Manage the Festival website - Produce the Festival programme and distribute - Marketing and PR for the Festival as a whole - Ensure health and safety and legal obligations are met across the Festival - Recruit volunteers - Main telephone information line (booking service) - Monitor audiences - Evaluate the Festival

  8. Volunteers • Over 300 members of the public and students • Over 150 members of staff throughout the University organise, speak or demonstrate at events • The Festival team recruit a team of volunteers to steward centrally organised events and man the information points on the main day of the Festival • Departments / external organisations should recruit their own volunteers (Festival team can provide advice on recruitment or recruit extra volunteers on behalf of Departments subject to enough notice being given) Why do people volunteer? • To view and participate in events • To get an inside experience of a Festival • To give back to the community • Because they are passionate about the arts, humanities and social sciences and want to share that passion

  9. Marketing and PR • Work with the University News team to release stories, local and national press • Distribution service distribute publicity materials throughout the City and surrounding villages • Programmes are mailed to 1200 schools, community centres, businesses, tourist centres and libraries • What’s on websites are updated • Targeted email campaigns to local businesses, community groups and parish magazines • Social media • Banners and posters are put up around the City • Promotion days at major shopping centres in the city Jon S • Pre-Festival events with community groups and centres • Press interviews with organisers and speakers

  10. Participation • Throughout the year, internal departments, speakers, volunteers and external organisations approach us asking to take part • Between January and June, the Festival team approaches departments, speakers and external organisations to discuss their involvement • External organisations are welcomed into the programme subject to: • Providing events which complement the existing programme • In-line with the Festival’s aims (more info here) • Level of support required from the Festival team • Ability to comply with health and safety and legal obligations • Financial support

  11. Website and emails • Website: www.cam.ac.uk/festival-of-ideas • Late events are added to the website and regular updates on the programme can also be accessed via the website • Over 2300 Facebook followers • 1700 Twitter followers • 9,000 subscribers to the public events mailing list (typically emailed 3 times to let them know about the Festival)

  12. How the programme is put together • 6 June: Deadline for event submission • 1 August: Programme goes to print • 22 August: Programme back from print • 22 / 25 August : Programme online • 22 September: Bookings open • 20 October: Festival starts • 2 November: Last day of the Festival

  13. Key Dates for the 2014 Festival of Ideas • 6 June: Deadline for event submission • 1 August: Programme goes to print • 22 August: Programme back from print • 22 / 25 August : Programme online • 22 September: Bookings open • 20 October: Festival starts • 2 November: Last day of the Festival

  14. Schools • Inspiring Ideas for Year 9 students – co-ordinated by Sue Long an Laura McGarty • In 2012, 150 students, talks across the breadth of the arts, humanities and social sciences , 5 colleges • We approach lecturers to take part and also welcome speakers contacting us

  15. Bookings • The Festival team run the main Festival information line (01223 766766) • Bookings for our centrally organised events on the phone and using www.eventbrite.com • Can support Faculties by taking bookings on their behalf subject to capacity • Booking for festival events opens on Monday, 23 September 2013

  16. Running an event 20 October – 2 November • Email cfi@admin.cam.ac.uk to discuss your ideas (you will be added to the mailing list to receive updates about the Festival) • Book a room for your event • Invite speakers • Submit event proposal using the online event management system by 6 June • Event is accepted into the programme or we will discuss why it is not suitable • Programme and other publicity materials are distributed by central team, you are responsible for specific event marketing • Ready for bookings opening on 22 September • Complete a risk assessment or submit PLI evidence (only for external organisations) • Provide your own volunteers (or notify us if you need help, we will provide T-shirts) and run the event

  17. How can I get involved? I am part of the University I am interested in running an event The Festival could not run without support in running the events. If you can provide admin support to help run events in your Faculty please contact us. I am a speaker You can take part in our schools programme, in an event organised by your own Faculty or an event organised by the Festival team (subject to capacity). Please contact us to discuss your ideas. I would like to volunteer That’s great. You can get involved helping out at events in your own Faculty (if you are from the University) or as a general steward. Contact us and we can put you in touch with the right person. I am happy to invite speakers within the Faculty to take part If you can’t provide any admin support to run the events then we can try and work your ideas and speakers from your Faculty into our centrally organised events. External to the University I am an organisation and I would like to run an event Please have a look at this document: Taking part in the Festivals and then get in touch so we can discuss your ideas. I am a speaker Please do send us some information about your work and we will be in touch to let you know if it fits in with the existing programme of events. Please note 90% of Festival events are free-of-charge and we rely on the majority of external speakers waiving their fee. I want to volunteer We have general stewarding opportunities which range from manning information points, supervising queues to getting involved in the action. Send us an email and we will add you to our mailing list. I am a community group / centre and would like to participate We work with dozens of community groups each year and there are plenty of ways we can work together, please get in touch.

  18. Contact details • Malavika Anderson • Festival of Ideas Co-ordinator • Office of External Affairs and Communications, The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RP • Malavika.anderson@admin.cam.ac.uk / cfi@admin.cam.ac.uk • 01223 764930 • www.cam.ac.uk/festivalofideas • Event co-ordinators’ webpage: www.cam.ac.uk/festivalofideas/eventcoord/

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