 Jazz Festivals In The SpotlightThe state of Jazz Festivals in the UK is to be explored as part of a unique one day conference to be hosted by Leeds Metropolitan University on Wednesday 13th May. The State of the Art – Jazz Festivals is an opportunity for a number of leading voices in the Jazz and Festival world to explore the considerable challenges facing organisers of Jazz Festivals today. Paul Gudgin, Visiting Professor at Leeds Metropolitan University and former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, has put the conference together. Gudgin commented “Like many other art forms, there has been a considerable increase in the number of jazz festivals being presented all over the UK in the past decade. While many have been successful there have been a number of high profile casualties such as the Brecon Jazz Festival in recent years and we felt now was the time to bring a number of leading jazz and festival experts together to consider how the sector might be strengthened.” The conference will look at what kind of support the festivals are receiving from audiences, sponsors and funding agencies. More importantly it will consider how they might be strengthened in these areas and what opportunities exist for collaboration and networking between these Festivals. Gudgin feels the whole point of the day is not just to provide a snapshot of the jazz festival world but to find ways of supporting the excellent work that these promoters do in bringing jazz to a wider audience. “In many ways the jazz festival scene has never been healthier generating significant audiences, profile and opportunities for artists. However there are undoubtedly major challenges facing festival organisers and this conference is looking at how jazz festivals can best tackle these challenges”. Speakers and panellists include: William Culver-Dodds, Former Chief Executive of Harrogate International Festivals John Cumming, Director of the London Jazz Festival Paul Gudgin, Former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Mike Hobart, Financial Times Jazz Critic Leila Jankovich, Senior Lecturer, Leeds Metropolitan University David Porter, Hull International Jazz Festival Jill Rodger, Director of the Glasgow International Jazz Festival Emma Wood, Reader in Festivals and Event Marketing, Leeds Metropolitan University. The State of The Art – Jazz Festivals Wednesday May 13 10.00am – 5.00pm Old School Board, Leeds Cost: £85 (Includes lunch and refreshments) For further details contact Paul Gudgin, paul@paulgudgin.com, 0797 1471216 Download the press release as a pdf file. 02/05/2009 |