The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has forged an alliance with the British Arts Festivals Association (BAFA) that will see the two trade bodies work together across events, data analysis, representation, training, resources, and more.

AIF and BAFA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding based on shared objectives to the benefit of both memberships – with AIF serving the independent music festival sector and BAFA representing multi-arts cultural events.

Through the MOU, both AIF and BAFA have committed to:

1. Host twice-yearly online member meetings that bring festival members of both organisations together to learn, share, and connect.

2. Work together to deliver in-person events in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

3. Publish joint reports on the state of the festival sector.

4. Support each other in increasing representation at sector meetings and increasing information flow between industry and public sector bodies.

5. Establish shared data points for surveying and reporting to members on trends that will help improve decision-making and event sustainability.

6. Produce shared resources and deliver shared training for members.

7. Offer cross-party access to BAFA Conference and AIF Congress.

8. Work together to grow and support the music and arts festival sector in the UK.

AIF CEO John Rostron said: “AIF’s membership is based on collaboration and cooperation between those working in the independent festival market, and this alliance with the wider multi-arts festival sector is an extension of that philosophy. There is already some significant crossover between our memberships. By working more intentionally together, we will all benefit from a greater diversity of insight, experience, and expertise.”

BAFA Director Fiona Goh said: ”BAFA exists to provide insight, inspiration, and connection for the arts festivals community through the networking, training, advocacy, and support that we offer. Our members create extraordinary work across the UK, and partnership supercharges that work, transforming what’s possible. We’re looking forward to BAFA and AIF working together more strategically in the future to the benefit of the whole festival sector.”

The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) is the UK’s national not for profit festival trade association representing the interests of 145 UK music festivals. AIF Festivals collectively reach over 3.3 million people every year, and AIF represents over 60% of all festivals in the UK that are 5,000+ capacity. AIF member festivals include some of the most successful and innovative festivals in the UK, including the likes of GreenBelt, Mighty Hoopla, Deershed, Valley Fest, End of The Road, Notting Hill Carnival, Pitchfork London, Field Maneuvers, We Out Here, and many more.

Founded in 1969, the British Arts Festivals Association (BAFA) is the national development agency for arts festivals, providing insight, inspiration, and connection for the arts festivals community through networking, training, advocacy, and support. It represents some 60 members across a broad swathe of the festivals industry, from individual single art-form and multi-arts festivals to festival groupings, universities and associated organisations, including BBC Proms, Cheltenham Festivals, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Hay Festival, Three Choirs Festival and Harrogate International Festivals.