Evaluation of the Festival of Fools 2011 Evaluation of the Festival of Fools 2011 1 Written by Cath McBride Designed by Nic Charlton Design t. 028 71353018 / 07540 232756 t. 028 9081 3221 / 07885 035698 e. [email protected] e. [email protected] w. niccharlton.co.uk 2 Evaluation of the Festival of Fools 2011 Contents 04–05 1. Summary: The successes, the facts and the figures 06–09 2. Evaluation aims and methodology 10–11 3. Yesterday’s Fools: Background to the Festival of Fools 12–17 4. Today’s Fools: The context of the Festival of Fools in 2011 18–35 5. Fooling About: What the Festival does 19–23 5.1. Shared cultural space, community cohesion and diversity 24–26 5.2. Impact on tourism and local economy 27–30 5.3. Artistic quality and contribution to the arts 31–32 5.4. Spreading the word – marketing and PR 33–35 5.5. Keeping it up – sustainability 36–39 6. Tomorrow’s Fools: Conclusion and looking to the future 40–52 7. Appendices Evaluation of the Festival of Fools 2011 3 1. ummary: S The successes, the facts and the figures “I was so delighted to see the Festival of Fools back in Belfast again this year, and I have to admit I think it just keeps getting better and better! It just brought the city to life over the Bank Holiday weekend… It is a Belfast gem; I hope we get to keep it!” MICHELLE CROSS, FESTIVAL OF FOOLS AUDIENCE MEMBER 4 Evaluation of the Festival of Fools 2011 From Thursday 28th April to Monday 2nd May 2011, the streets of Belfast once again came alive 2011 saw more audience members than with laughter, banter and general tom-foolery in previous years, increased numbers of as the city hosted the 8th Festival of Fools. The performances (in part due to the extra Bank sun shone down on the weekend, providing the Holiday), and new and creative ways of using perfect backdrop to the very broadest range of shared space. Responses from the public, artists street theatre entertainment for casual audience and key stakeholders were highly positive, members and dedicated Festival goers alike! deeming the event a success. The Festival was challenged by decisions around funding and the lack of financial support for core costs, but this was managed through staff commitment, additional long hours and creativity. KEY FACTS & FIGURES: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • 67 artists delivered 137 performances across 7 venues –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • In total 46,6001 people attended the Festival over 5 days – an 11% increase on 20092 and 55% increase since the Festival began in 2004 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Of the 46,600 audience members 61% were from Belfast, 25% were from the rest of Northern Ireland and 14% were from out of state –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Of those surveyed there were representatives from every Belfast postcode –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Out of state visitors surveyed included those from England, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, the Republic of Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic, USA, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, Latvia and Singapore –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Audience members spent an average of 2.5 days at the Festival –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • 99% of surveyed audience members rated the quality of performances as either good or excellent –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • 100% of surveyed audience members would attend the Festival again in 2012 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • 100% of surveyed audience members would recommend the Festival of Fools to others –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Festival of Fools continues to be Northern Ireland’s only street theatre Festival –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1 Audience numbers have been calculated by Venue Managers’ audience head counts at static sites, and the Festival Director’s estimates of public interaction with walkabout acts. 2 Comparisons are made with the 2009 Festival throughout this evaluation; this is because the last independent evaluation was carried out in 2009. Evaluation of the Festival of Fools 2011 5 2. Evaluation aims and methodology 6 Evaluation of the Festival of Fools 2011 This evaluation has been commissioned by the Festival of Fools as a result of funding from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Belfast City Council and the Community Relations Council. The aim of the evaluation is to give an independent view of the contribution made by the 8th Festival of Fools to Belfast, Northern Ireland and the arts generally. This will be assessed against the Festival’s overarching aims and the key criteria stipulated by the main funding bodies. The document will celebrate the event’s key successes, highlight the challenges faced, and bring to light areas for review and development. The evaluation process has been carried out with support from key personnel within the Festival team and has involved the collection of both qualitative and quantitative information including: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Review of written historic and contextual data –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Review of previous Festival evaluations –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Attendance and observation at performances across the 5 days of the Festival –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Design, collection and analysis of 340 audience surveys across the Festival’s range of venues and performances3 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Design, collection and analysis of 128 Venue Manager surveys across the Festival’s range of venues and performances –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Collection of photographic evidence –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • In depth face-to-face and telephone interviews with key stakeholders –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 3 To view the audience survey and venue managers’ survey see appendix 1. For a complete list of audience comments see appendix 2. Evaluation of the Festival of Fools 2011 7 Those who have contributed to the evaluation through interview include: Will Chamberlain: Artistic Director - Festival of Fools Will is the creative mastermind behind the Festival of Fools. He conceived the initial concept of bringing an eclectic mix of accessible street theatre to the centre of Belfast more than 8 years ago, since which time he has grown and developed the Festival to its current level. Will is responsible for the strategic direction of the Festival; specific tasks include “It’s up there with the best street Festivals in the event programming, fundraising and team world. That’s not just me saying that, it’s what management – his role within Festival of Fools I hear from audiences and also from the artists is a voluntary position. who spend their lives travelling from one Festival to the next.” –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WILL CHAMBERLAIN: ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FESTIVAL OF FOOLS Sarah Kelly: Coordinator - Festival of Fools Sarah has had a coordination role with the Festival of Fools since 2006. Working closely with Will, her current responsibilities include “The Festival itself went really well over the coordination of all event administration, event five days, we had a fantastic venue manager marketing and PR, attracting event sponsors, volunteer management and artist relations. team, technical crew and volunteer team – they know what they are doing now, it all Since 2009, Sarah has been employed by the ran smoothly.” Festival of Fools in a part-time salaried post – previous to this Sarah’s role was also voluntary. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SARAH KELLY: COORDINATOR FESTIVAL OF FOOLS 8 Evaluation of the Festival of Fools 2011 “I think Festival of Fools contributes Grant Goldie: a lot to the arts in NI, there are a lot of people Local Street Theatre Artist from other artistic disciplines that come along to Belfast based Grant has performed at 6 watch it and see that it’s a valuable art in itself - Festival of Fools including the 2011 event. Grant because sometimes street theatre gets dismissed has a broad experience base in terms of street as not being ‘proper art.” theatre having performed around the world at Festivals and events. He has seen the Festival –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– of Fools develop over the years from an artist’s view point. GRANT GOLDIE: LOCAL STREET THEATRE ARTIST Joan Dempster: Community Arts Development Officer – Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) Joan was the Festival of Fools’ Community Arts Officer for ACNI in its first two years (2004 “It has really developed and is now a recognized and 2005) and once again covered the Festival brand. It has a good place in the arts calendar – in her client portfolio in 2011. She therefore there is nothing else like it in Belfast or represents the event’s principal funder and has Northern Ireland.” a comprehensive understanding of the Festival’s aims. On a personal level, she has attended and –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– enjoyed the