Leadership / 06.14.23

AIF Launches Crowdfunder to Give the Young Their First Festival Experience

Access Staff

Pollstar (06/09/23) Gottfried, Gideon

The U.K.'s Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has rolled out the First Festival crowdfunding campaign to raise money for tickets so adolescents can attend their first live festival after pandemic-forced lockdowns. The raised money will permit qualifying 18-year-olds on the waiting list to purchase tickets for their chosen festivals for just £18 ($22). "The First Festival Campaign has been built on the belief that, upon turning 18, everyone should be able to access the pivotal cultural moment that festivals provide," AIF stated. "But, in recent years, many have not had that opportunity." The group added that even last year, "lots of festivals rolled tickets over from 2019, meaning that hundreds of thousands of young people missed out on this key moment again." Anyone in Britain who was or is 18 years old between Sept. 1, 2019, and Aug. 31, 2023, can register for attending one of AIF's member festivals through the First Festival website. "Everyone should have a first festival experience, and it should be a thrilling and vital part of every person's journey into adulthood," declared AIF CEO John Rostron. "So many of us have wonderful festival memories to share, and brilliant festival stories to tell. We're hoping that there'll be individuals and organizations who are able to spare some money to put into the fund to help people attend their first festivals this year."

Read the full story from Pollstar.

Tags: Leadership , Festivals