The awards ceremony dedicated to celebrate some of the best independent festivals around the globe took place this past Friday in the UK
(Image Courtesy: The Festival Congress Facebook)
There are some gatherings in the world that need some serious acclaim when it comes to ascertaining the level of hard work that’s put into putting together a festival. The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has unveiled details of the first-ever Festival Congress Awards Ceremony in celebration of the diversity and creativity of the festival landscape.
Glastonbury’s iconic Arcadia spider
(Image Courtesy: Glastonbury Facebook)
The ceremony recognised and celebrated the great variety of work that took place in the festival industry this year. It took place this past Friday, October 17, in Portland House, Cardiff. Hosted byΒ Ben ChallisΒ and featuring an introduction byΒ Huw StephensΒ (BBC Radio One) andΒ Bethan ElfynΒ (BBC Radio Wales), this event was followed by an after party sound tracked by icons of the DJ world includingΒ Madame Electrifie,Β DJ Chris TofuΒ andΒ Count Skylarkin.
Bestival’s record breaking giant disco ball
(Image Courtesy: imgur.com)
The award categories acknowledge the huge variety of festival work, here are the winners:
Outstanding Contribution Award:
Rob da Bank
Supporter Of Emerging Talent Award
2000 Trees
New Festival On The Block
Fire in the Mountain
Silver Service Award
Goan Seafood Company
Unique Festival Site
Festival No.6
Live Act Of The Year
Catfish & the Bottlemen
Artist for the Audience
Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip
Mind-Blowing Spectacle Award
The Arcadia Spider
Smart Marketing Campaign Of The Year
Bestival Mirror Ball
Random Act Of Kindness Award
End of the Road audience
Culture & Tourism Award
Forward Thinking Local Authority, Dorset County Council
Friendliest Security Staff
Showsec
Festival Blogger Of The Year
Shell Zenner
Emmet Brown Award
Shambala Festival
Festival Venue Of The Year
End of the Road
Unsung Hero
James GoodallΒ
One of the golden moments from Bestival
(Image Courtesy: aifrog.com)
Rob da BankΒ and his island festivalΒ BestivalΒ were big winners on the night, as wereΒ Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius PipΒ who played their last ever live show at Bestival last month.
The awards ceremony took place on the first night of the AIF Festival Congress, a two-day gathering of those behind the success of festivals around the world as they met to network, learn and celebrate. Β The congress featured keynote speaker Jude Kelly and speeches from high-profile figures of the industry such as Martin Elbourne, Stuart Galbraith and Alison Wenham.
(Cover Image Courtesy: wateraid.org)