Join BAFA

Here are some good reasons to join the British Arts Festivals Association:

Networking
BAFA membership brings access to a large and thriving network of UK festivals. We organise an annual conference each autumn and a road show in the spring, which provide an opportunity for members to meet, share ideas and talk about issues of common concern.

BAFA Website
The BAFA website provides members with a wonderful resource of information.  Each member has its own area of the site for placing information such as press releases and contact details.  The home page features each member festival in rotation and has an area for forthcoming events where your festival will be listed as its dates draw near.

Advocating for Festivals
By maintaining a healthy number of members BAFA is able to provide a strong and effective voice for its membership. Recently BAFA has been part of successful campaigns on Performing Right Society levies and the new Licensing Act.

In 2000, 2002 and 2008 BAFA published Festivals Mean Business - a survey of the BAFA membership that demonstrated the economic impact of festivals in the UK. Festivals Mean Business has proved to be a powerful tool for festivals to help present strong arguments for support from councils, sponsors and the Arts Council.  You receive a complimentary copy of these reports as a BAFA member.

Savings on Your Festival Insurance
BAFA has forged an exciting partnership with La Playa – expert insurance brokers in the field of festivals, to make the cost of public and employers’ liability insurance more affordable for BAFA members. As a BAFA member you will receive a 20% discount on you insurance premium with La Playa, which can have the effect of making a considerable saving on the cost of membership.

Training and Professional Development
In 2010 BAFA is putting together a professional development strategy designed to help individuals develop skills and experience at all levels.

Information and News

BAFA offers an information service to members by providing regular email bulletins on current issues affecting arts festivals in addition to inspiration from other members and details of forthcoming BAFA events.  News affecting festivals is also published in the members' area of the website in addition to a library of relevant reference articles.

Marketing Support
BAFA provides marketing support via a service that places your press release in the hands of the national press.

Its Fun
Being in BAFA is fun. Conferences are held in fantastic locations, gatherings are friendly and supportive and you get to meet some great people.

Its Affordable
BAFA membership is affordable. Membership rates start at just £135 + VAT. With such a fantastic range of services and savings on offer, you can see that BAFA provides excellent value for money.