Programming, Promoting, Touring, Event and Festival Management

Only Connect: Arts touring and rural communities
By Francois Matarasso
Pub Comedia 2004 ISBN 1873667825 £10
This is the first large scale study of rural touring work, and was commissioned by the National Rural Touring Form. It comprises 9 case studies and the results of a literature review, and analysis of a wide range of schemes’ work. It covers the logistics of rural touring schemes, the economic aspects, artistic aspects, community cohesion and development, and identifies some challenges for the future. Review
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The Touring Scheme Toolkit: A Step by Step Guide to Creating and Developing Rural Touring Schemes
By Richard King
Pub National Rural Touring Forum 2003 ISBN 09544155914 £5
A nicely produced guide with case studies as illustrations of the good practice it promotes. Designed for those setting up or expanding a Rural Touring Scheme, it has both plenty of useful factual information and much wisdom gleaned from those with experience in this field. There are sample contracts, feedback forms, and sources of further information.
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The Same, But Different Rural Arts Touring in Scotland: The Case of Theatre
By Christine Hamilton & Adrienne Scullion
Pub Comedia 2004 ISBN 1873667876 £10
This investigation into the structures and systems of contemporary rural arts touring uses the 1973 tour by 7:84 of the Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil as a reference point to gauge evolution and change in terms of the work of the companies, audience expectations, the nature of the venues, the funding context, and the policy framework. It draws conclusions from the review, and makes recommendations for policy development at government, agency and local level.
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Festival and Events Management: an international arts and culture perspective
By Ian Yeoman, Martin Robertson, Jane Ali-Knight, Siobhan Drummond, Una McMahon-Beattie
Pub Elsevier Butterworth Heineman2004 ISBN 075065872X

This book offers practical applications, models and illustrations of event management operation from a variety of international perspectives. It offers practical applications, models and illustrations of event management and international case studies. Chapters include exercises and solutions to questions. Review

Art & People: A practical guide to setting up and running arts projects in the community
Christine Wilkinson et al
Pub Slough Borough Council 2003 2nd edition ISBN 0904164071 £12
A nicely produced guide to the basics for those new to the field. Based on the experience of developing Community Arts Training in Slough (CATS), this has all been tried and tested in practice. Beautiful photographs of recent projects remind us of what is possible, and at the practical end of the scale, there are forms and templates including a sample budget and media consent forms. Review
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Setting The Streets Alive: A guide to producing street arts events
By Bill Gee, Edward Taylor & Anne Tucker
Pub Independent Street Arts Network 2004 ISBN 0954489225 £10
Based on the material from the popular ISAN training course, also called Setting the Streets Alive, this guide covers the basics of producing successful street arts events, taking the reader from the early planning stages, through programming, liaison, promotion and finally, production of the event itself. Inspirational case studies provide examples of what can be achieved in a small to mid-scale event.
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Festival and Special Event Management
by Johnny Allen, William O'Toole, Ian McDonnell, and Robert Harris
Pub Wiley 2002 2nd edition ISBN 0471421820

Safety Guidance for Street Arts, Carnival, Processions and Large-Scale Performances
by David Bilton et. Al. 2004 ISBN 0954489217
Compiled by experts in the field, and including real-life case studies, this guide provides the specific safety guidance for the street arts and carnival sectors. Incorporating advice on planning, risk assessment, assembling an event team, consultation and liaison with the relevant authorities, stewarding, special effects and much more, this is an essential point of reference for event planners and producers.

This industry guidance is commended to all involved… (Barry Baker, HSE)
It is always enlightening when such organisations [as ISAN] grasp the nettle – particularly when it comes to health and safety issues – and draft practical, pragmatic guidance for all to follow. (Richard Limb, Symonds Group Ltd)
The Institute of Licensing is pleased to support ISAN’s Safety Guidance, which offers clear and practical guidance to those who wish to provide arts events outside of the confines of licensed buildings… (Jeffrey Leib, The Institute of Licensing)

Street Arts: A User’s Guide
by Anthony Dean (Series ed), Dorothy Max Prior (Associate ed.) 2003 ISBN 0954489209 £8
An essential guide to the last three decades of street arts in the UK. A unique look at the changing nature of a cultural practice, mixing analysis, critique, context and anecdote, including contributions from Bim Mason, Baz Kershaw, Lyn Gardner and many leading street arts performers.
In 2002, ISAN in association with the Total Theatre Network, The Central School of Speech and Drama and the Theatre Museum held Restoration and Revolution – a symposium on street arts. Artists, promoters and academics came together to review and debate the history and current practice of UK street arts. The publication draws and extends those discussions.
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Marketing and Touring: A practical guide to marketing an event on tour
By Heather Maitland
Pub ACE 2004 ISBN 0728710277 £10
This guide aims to help companies and venues to market touring arts events more effectively. It can be used in an art form, on any scale and in any capacity – and is particularly useful for theatre and dance. It contains many case studies and tips from practitioners and had an editorial team drawn from companies and venues. It stresses the value in developing effective partnerships and planning ahead. There’s also plenty of useful stuff on communicating with audiences.
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Touring Scheme Toolkit: a step by step guide to creating and developing rural touring schemes
By Richard King
Pub National Rural Touring Forum 2003 ISBN 0954415914 £5
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Promoters’ Don’t Panic! Pack
By Duncan MacInnes
Pub National Rural Touring Forum 2000 £5 [£7.75 inc p&p]
This is a set of sheets punched ready to go in a file, and providing very useful basic guidance on how to promote a one night, small-scale touring production in a village hall. It assumes that the Promoter is working with their local Touring scheme. Its advice is also useful to others in similar settings – and here ‘promotion’ covers all aspects of getting the show – technical, health and safety as well as ticket prices and marketing. A very useful resource.
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Irish Theatre Handbook: A comprehensive guide to professional drama, dance and opera in Ireland, North and South
Ed Paula Shields
Pub The Theatre Shop 2004 3rd Edition ISBN 0953421325 £15
A comprehensive guide to professional drama, dance and opera in Ireland, North and South. Since first published in 1998, this has become the ‘bible’ of the professional theatre industry in Ireland and has developed a growing international readership. The 3rd edition contains a wealth of information on theatre practitioners and organisations – more than 150 theatre companies, 90 venues and 35 festivals are listed, complete with artistic policies, personnel and contact information. There are also suppliers and services, a directory of funding and training opportunities, youth theatre groups, Irish and UK press list, plus a selection of international arts festivals and networks.
Available here at SAMs Books

British Performing Arts Yearbook
Pub: Rhinegold £30.95 incl p&p online discount price
Click here to link to the publisher

Essential Theatre: The successful management of theatres and venues which present the performing arts
by Crispin Raymond
Pub: Arts Council of England 1999 out of print ISBN 0 7287 0783 7
This offers an up to date and comprehensive analysis of presenting theatre management today. It is based upon current good practice, and is particularly suited to those who are new to the area of work. You can follow the introductions and red print sections and get a broad feel for the essence of venue management in an hour of skim reading, and then return to it for further detail, and endless good ideas. Review

The Arts Promoter's Pack - A guide to putting on an arts event for small scale venues and promoters
by Jo Hilton
Pub: East Midlands Arts 2nd edition 1997 out of print ISBN 0 9507027 6 5
Written for promoters / programmers of arts events and very valuable for both venues and festivals, this is a comprehensive guide that takes you right through the business of promotion. Sections include programming, legal and admin, marketing, funding, finance, policies and people. Recommended.

See also Venue Management and Planning - Project Management sections.

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