LONDON (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The ninth Annual General Meeting of AIM served as the platform for the launch of the Association of Independent Festivals.
The new association was launched with twelve festival organisers on the Board, with a second wave of festivals to be invited as members over the summer.
The brainchild of Bestival promoter Rob da Bank, he said at the launch, at AIM's AGM: "AIF has been a seed in my brain ever since we started Bestival five years ago, where we came up against so many issues, from where to source good toilets to stopping campsite theft, to being greener, saving money, and making our event as good as can be."
AIF will operate as an autonomous division of AIM with it's own board and structure. It will be chaired by AIM Chairman Alison Wenham, and its founding members range from the 40,000 capacity Creamfields in Liverpool, to the 6,000 capacity Summer Sundae in Leicester.
Services provided by invite-only AIF from launch will include use of AIM's lawyer Michael Fuller, discounted entry to AIF and AIM networking events, exclusive exposure to companies operating in the festival market, including shared knowledge of service providers around the UK and Ireland to help reduce overheads for all festival owners. AIF will immediately open up dialogue across music business and government, making itself available for consultation on key issues facing the festival market. There are also plans for collective marketing initiatives for AIF members.
Founding AIF Board members: Chris Greenwood – Big Chill, Chris Smith – Womad, Dave Farrow -Beautiful Days, Franc Gooding – Bloom Festival, Freddie Fellowes – Secret Garden Party, James Barton – Creamfields, Jim King – Loud Sound, John Reynolds – Electric Picnic, Nick Ladd – Glade, Rob Challice – Summer Sundae Weekender, Tom Baker – Field Day. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
