We have launched a series of mini-conferences across Britain to help festival businesses learn, share information and find solutions to common problems.

Taking place in a different location each month, The City Sessions will examine one issue in detail per event through panel discussion from experts and open debate with delegates. It will be followed by a networking session.

A partnership with national venue operator Academy Music Group will see The City Sessions take place in O2 Academy venues in Leeds, London, Bristol, Glasgow and Birmingham.

The inaugural event takes place on March 25 at the O2 Academy Leeds, in association with Doodson Broking Group, Yorkshire Festivals Network and the UK Centre for Events Management. It will explore how festivals can cope with the financial pressures caused by the economic downturn.

With the rise in VAT, growing unemployment, reduced arts funding and decreased consumer spending, The City Session Leeds will equip promoters with ideas for cutting costs, identify new revenue streams and ideas for making efficiencies or improvements to their businesses in these lean times.

Tickets are £25, available from WeGotTickets

Schedule:
March 25 – Underground, O2 Academy Leeds: Surviving the Age of Austerity
April 15 – O2 Academy Islington, London
September 16 – O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol
September 21 – O2 ABC, Glasgow
December – Birmingham

In association with: