DELIVERY EVENTS & FESTIVALS INDUSTRY GROUP


Giving voice to the industry


Establishment of an industry forum seen as an important part of delivering Scotland the Perfect Stage


BY WILLIAM PEAKIN A


group being devel- oped to represent the views of the events and festivals sector is close to agreeing its terms of


reference. Te Events and Festivals Industry


Group first met in June last year, brought together by the Scottish Tourism Alliance to facilitate a col- lective industry response to the re- freshed national events and festivals strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage, published last September. Te establishment of an industry


forum to gather and represent the views of the events and festivals sector was seen as an important part of the effective delivery of Scotland the Perfect Stage, and is a central tenet to the delivery of Tour- ism Scotland 2020 (TS2020), the national tourism strategy. TS2020 was launched in 2012,


and the Scottish Tourism Alliance on behalf of the industry, public agencies and Scottish Government coordinates its delivery. Te strategy identifies events and festivals as a key tourism asset that can drive and sustain additional economic growth. “Te group recognises that


whereas the events and festivals sector and tourism sector are not one and the same, there is consid- erable overlap and therefore one industry group would be created to coordinate industry views and strategic input for both strategies,” said its chair David Alfrey, producer of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.


THE DEVELOPMENT of the group’s terms of reference was planned for this year, in order to allow for publication and dissemination of the refreshed events strategy. It is hoped that they will be agreed at a meeting of the group on 19 July. It is intended that the role of the


Events and Festivals Industry Group will be to: Represent the views of the events and festivals sector in relation to the


delivery of Tourism Scotland 2020 and Scotland the Perfect Stage; Influence action and direction


of Government, its agencies and industry around the issues and opportunities which significantly impact on the sector’s performance and Scotland’s competitive advan- tage; Encourage the sector to share and


collaborate to build stronger capa- bilities and capacities across the industry, in line with the strategies; And working with TS2020 and


STPS Strategy Groups, support and contribute to the monitoring of the sector’s strategic activities against agreed vision and targets and the adjustment of activities as required. Supported by a secretariat pro-


vided by the STA, the group will be led by an industry chair, and will


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36 | EVENTSBASE | SUMMER 2016


There is recognition that there is considerable overlap between the events and festivals sectors


meet four times a year. ‘Short-life’ working groups may also be estab- lished. Membership will represent the breadth of the sector, and will be reviewed every year.


AS WELL as refining the group’s terms of reference, a recent meeting heard of updates to the work of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate in supporting the industry, includ- ing ongoing efforts to secure major events – the 2019 European Indoor Athletics was cited as one example. An event impact evaluation tool


is being developed. Tere will be updates to EventScotland.org to improve resources for the industry and a seminar programme on event marketing innovation, fundraising, public safety, food and drink and programming will run throughout the year. Te meeting also discussed “significant concerns” about the rising cost of operating events, including police charging. As well as its terms of reference,


the group also discussed a draft ca- pability and capacity development framework for the events and fes- tivals sector, looking at marketing, innovation, infrastructure, finance, leadership and collaboration, and education and development.


Interested events and festivals professionals can contact Caroline Warburton, National Strategy Delivery Coordinator, The Scottish Tourism Alliance, on 01786 459235 and by email: caroline.warburton@stalliance. co.uk


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