SO2547 Sligo Festival Management & Development Programme

SO2547 - Sligo Festival Management & Development Programme

Sligo County Council & LEO Sligo are delighted to offer you the opportunity to participate on the Festival Management & Development Programme, a certified training programme specifically designed for festival organisers, committee members & volunteers across the region.

Taking place this September, the programme supports the long-term development of Sligo’s vibrant festival and events sector through a focus on strategic planning, sustainability, governance, inclusion, and creative excellence. It is part of the Implementation Plan of Sligo County Council’s Festival & Event Strategy, based on sector-wide consultation and research carried out by Bane Mullarkey Tourism Consultants.

The programme will be delivered by two leading experts in the field: Professor Gary Kerr, Head of the Department of Marketing, Tourism & Sport at ATU, a respected academic and festival practitioner with deep expertise in cultural tourism, event planning, and sectoral strategy; and Dr. Jane Ali-Knight, Professor in Festival and Event Management at Edinburgh Napier University, an internationally recognised leader in festival and event education who brings a wealth of insight into global best practice and cultural leadership.

Issues covered include:

September 6th - On campus

• Creative Programming for Festivals
• Risk Management and Finance
• Measuring Impacts of Festivals

Wednesday September 10th - Online

• Delivering Sustainable Festivals
• Festival Governance

Wednesday September 17th - Online

• Technological Innovation for Festivals
• Marketing & Brand Development

Saturday October 4th - On campus (programme close & certificate)

• Audience Development & Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Festival logistics management
• Roundtable discussion / next steps
• Closing and certification

This programme will help you to:

• Strengthen your festival’s artistic and cultural strategy
• Improve your Festival's financial resilience and funding readiness
• Deliver more sustainable and inclusive events
• Build your skills in governance, logistics, technology, and evaluation

Save the Dates

• Saturday, September 6th (10:00am – 4:00pm) – ATU Campus
• Wednesday, September 10th (6:00pm – 9:00pm) – Evening session
• Wednesday, September 17th (6:00pm – 9:00pm) – Evening session
• Saturday, September 27th (10:00am – 4:00pm) – ATU Campus, final day and certification

How it Works:

• After you book your place, your details will be passed to the Festival & Event Coordinator - please note there is limited space for this course.
• During the ATU campus days Break will be tea/coffee scones/croissants Lunch will be tea/coffee/sandwich-wrap selection and biscuits.
• 75% attendance is required for certification.

Please Note:

• Bookings are strictly limited to individuals/businesses with a registered address in Co. Sligo.
• If you make a booking and have a registered address in another County, LEO Sligo reserves the right to cancel your booking.