irish festivals, irish life: celebrating the wealth of irelands festivals fiona goh consulting 2003
TRANSCRIPT
Irish Festivals, Irish Life:celebrating the wealth ofIreland’s festivals
Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Background
Page 01
Why do we need the research?
To evaluate the value and impact of Irish festivals
To understand the needs and priorities of festivals better
To explode myths about the festivals movement
To share best practice in festival organisation and development
To make the case for Irish festivals nationally and internationally
Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Background
Page 02
The research objectives:
To gather baseline data on the Irish festivals movement
To analyse the data and provide a summary of key findings, together with a full report
To explore the main issues in depth in a series of case studies
To produce an appropriate research template for future use
Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Methodologies
Page 03
Project overview:
Consultation and literature review
Survey research via a postal questionnaire
Case studies via telephone interviews
Database of 469 member and non-member festival organisers
Republic of Ireland - 2002 data only
103 eligible questionnaires returned - 22% response rate
Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Irish festivals: a picture of activity
Page 04Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Festivals' dates of birth
0
10
20
30
40
2000 or
later
1990 -
1999
1980 -
1989
1970 -
1979
1960 -
1969
1950 -
1959
pre 1950
Year founded
Irish festivals: a picture of activity
Page 05Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Festival content
25%
3%
9%
2%14%2%
7%
4%
19%
3%3%
5%
4%
MusicArts otherSportsDanceStreet events/ carnivalAgriculturalFood/ drinkLiteratureDrama/ theatreMulti-disciplinaryIrish language/ cultureVisual artsOther
Irish festivals: a picture of activity
Page 06
Events:
Each festival programmed a median of 23 events
90% of festival organisers programmed free events
85% of festivals promoted ticketed events
No. of events programmed by the sample: 4,660
Total population - an estimated minimum of 10,600 events per year: equivalent to 30 events per day
Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Irish festivals: a picture of activity
Page 07
Audiences:
An estimated audience of 5 million saw free festival events
At least 2 million tickets were sold for ticketed events
Over 7.1 million attendances at festivals in 2002 (cf. population of Ireland - 3.9 million)
Audience breakdown: 67% local, 33% visitors; 1/3 of the audience require overnight accommodation
Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Irish festivals: creating an impact
Page 08
Finances:
Sample spent €10.6 million - median expenditure of €28,000
Income of €10.4 million - median income of €33,000
67% recorded a surplus; the remaining 33% had a deficit
Estimate of the total indirect economic impact of festivals’ spending on other areas of the Irish economy = €31.7 million
Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Irish festivals: creating an impact
Page 09Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Festival expenditure
29%
1%
18%2%
24%
1%
12%
13%Fees for acts/ artists
Event licenses
Staffing
Insurance
Event costs
Training
Administration
Marketing
Irish festivals: creating an impact
Page 10Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Festival income
19%
3%
21%
8%16%
1%
8%
2%
11%
11%
Box office
Local authority
National sponsorship (cash)
National sponsorship (in kind)
Arts Council
EU funding schemes
Local sponsorship (cash)
Local sponsorship (in kind)
Failte Ireland
Earned income
Irish festivals in context
Page 11
National presence, local impact:
Festivals’ primary objectives are artistic excellence, tourism and their local communities
55% undertake additional activity, including arts-related work, tourism initiatives and education programmes
66% use community venues - pubs, churches, outdoor public spaces, village, community or school halls
69% of income is spent in the local area - direct investment back into local economies of at least €8.9 million
Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Irish festivals in context
Page 12
External relations:
Good relations with key stakeholders is vital to festivals’ success
94% of festivals rated their relationship with the Gardai as ‘good’
77% of festivals have a website or other web presence
99% receive coverage of their events in a regional newspaper
30% receive coverage at an international level
Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Volunteering
Page 13Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Volunteer age
10%
16%
21%
20%
16%
13%4%
Under 18 years
19 - 25 years
26 - 34 years
35 - 44 years
45 - 54 years
55 - 64 years
Over 65 years
Volunteering
Page 14
Volunteers - a key festivals resource:
98% of festivals use volunteers - 50% have no paid staff at all
Support is given at all levels for a broad range of tasks
An estimated 2,772 people work year round - plus 8,316 during festival time
Total estimated support given by volunteers to Irish festivals = 185 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs)
Value of volunteers’ time at the Minimum Wage = €2.2 million
Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Summary
Page 15
In conclusion:
Irish festivals are here to stay; they are a vibrant and growing sector providing a wealth of activities year-round
Festivals have a significant impact on the cultural, social and economic fabric of Ireland
Festivals support and develop active communities
The research allows us to demonstrate the value of festivals, share best practice and make the case to key stakeholders
Fiona Goh Consulting 2003
Fiona Goh Consulting: [email protected]