Christopher BarrettThe AIF announced at its Festival Congress in Bristol today, 1 February, that it has reached the 100 member milestone with the addition of Eisteddfod Yr Urdd (pictured) to its ranks.
An annual Welsh-language youth festival of literature, music and performing arts organised by Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Eisteddfod Yr Urdd has an annual attendance of approximately 100,000.
It joins a diverse list of AIF festivals including 2000trees, Barn On The Farm, Beat Herder, Black Deer, Bluedot, Boardmasters, Boomtown, Deer Shed, Dot To Dot, Field Maneuvers, Kendal Calling, Leopallooza, Love Trails, Notting Hill Carnival, Oxjam, Shambala, Standon Calling, Tramlines and YNot?.
AIF chair, Notting Hill Carnival CEO Matthew Phillip announced the news during his opening comments at the Congress, where he also drew parallels between the multi-organisational approach to creating Notting Hill Carnival and the spirit of togetherness that he has found between the many festivals that make up AIF.
AIF’s new CEO John Rostron said, “A membership of 100 festivals is a real landmark for AIF. When AIF was founded, we were just five. The work we do collectively, the knowledge we share, the advocacy that we can make through working together becomes stronger and stronger as we represent more and more of the independent music festivals and carnivals in the UK. We have a brilliant, vibrant network of wonderfully creative, innovative and vital organisations and starting 2023 with 100 members strong makes us all very excited about the year ahead.”