Festival of Politics 2015: Update
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SPCB(2015)Paper 045 3 June 2015 FESTIVAL OF POLITICS 2015: UPDATE Executive summary 1. The purpose of this Paper is to update and seek the SPCB’s approval on the planning and preparations for the Festival of Politics 2015, in particular the programme, proposed new ticketing structure, partners and budgets. Background 2. At its meeting on Wednesday 10 December 2014 the SPCB agreed the Festival would take place from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 August based on the same model as the previous two years providing a shorter, sharper and more focused programme developed through discussions with the Presiding Officer and Clerk/Chief Executive. 3. The SPCB also agreed that sessions should be led on the same basis as previous year using experts and commentators; that the Garden Lobby be dressed as a Festival Café Bar; that the ticketing structure be reviewed; and that the central theme would have an international focus. 4. This year’s international theme also feeds into the marketing campaign that will see the Festival of Politics co-promoted and marketed with World Press Photo 2015 and the Michael Peto Photography: Politics in Focus exhibitions (22 July to 22 August) under the strapline Inspiring people to see the world differently. Issues and options Programme 5. This year’s programme (Annex A) is organised around four key strands – International politics and democracy; Education, culture and history; Global prosperity; and Geo-politics – under an international theme. The programme contains details of proposed Festival events that have been or are close to being confirmed. Whilst it is hoped that the Festival programme will not change significantly before it goes to print the SPCB’s approval will be sought for any major amendments. 6. Building on the success of the decision to use the Members’ Room to screen the film One Humanity last year, it is proposed that a new film strand be introduced as part of this year’s Festival. This would see films closely related to panel topics being screened in the Members’ Room. For example, screening the film Made in Dagenham would tie-in with the panel on Workers’ Rights in the 21st Century or the lecture and panel on Scotland and Slavery would fit with a screening of 12 Years A Slave. There would also be a short post-film discussion after each screening with the Festival panellists. 7. Seeking to develop the Parliament’s Public Engagement Strategy and focus on engaging young people in the democratic process, this year’s Festival aims to build upon the Presiding Officer’s Sikh Sanjog event in January, the Inspiring Young Women event in March and the forthcoming Holyrood Rocks 2015 event in October, to introduce a new teenage-focussed strand as part of Saturday’s 15 August programme. 8. This would involve The Buzz Project bus being on-site for the weekend; based in Fort William, the project enables young people aged 14-25 to identify and fulfil their potential through music. It is a bus that has been kitted out as a state-of-the-art recording studio and will welcome young people to try out the facilities. There will also be a performance from the Buzz Project’s singer Cileas McMaster, author events and a creative space for workshops on cartooning and vlogging. There will also be performances by teenage dance groups from Sikh Sanjog and Dancebase’s Mini-Jackers, as well as young Indian drummers and Yew, a teenage musician who is also part of the Holyrood Rocks 2015 event. 9. As with previous years, The Scotsman will be the media partner of the Festival of Politics 2015, as the newspaper’s readership both in print and online, would target the Festival’s core audience. The partnership will bring a number of benefits including additional advertising, inserting the Festival programme within the newspaper and a digital email to all online Scotsman subscribers. The SPCB is asked to consider the above and agree the draft programme as set out in Annex A. Festival Café Bar 10. The Festival Café bar will again offer a place for Festivalgoers and panellists to continue on-going debates and discussion as well as enjoying the programme of music, poetry and dance. The opening Festival party will see performances by Cileas McMaster from the Buzz Project followed by a quartet from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland. 11. A lively atmosphere indicative of Saturday’s youth strand will be reflected in performances by Cileas, the Holyrood Rocks’ musician Yew and the blues- influenced band Blueswater. Following feedback from last year’s Festival where a preference for a more low-key atmosphere in the Café Bar area was requested, an acoustic Sunday has been programmed. This involves performances by acoustic-orientated acts including the Bowhill Players who provided the soundtrack to the Joe Corrie Project. 12. As well as the World Press Photo and the Michael Peto: politics in focus exhibitions, an third exhibition titled The Auld Acquaintance which brings together artwork by cartoonists from the Scottish and UK press as well as caricaturists across the globe is proposed for the Festival Café Bar this year. Caricatures, editorial cartoons and comic strips were produced in response to the question on whether Scotland should be an independent country? Ranging from satirical to whimsical and light-hearted, all images would be chosen on the basis of an equal representation of both sides of the argument, if agreed. Launch and Ticketing 13. Following approval by the SPCB the programme will be launched to Members, the public and media on Tuesday 23 June 2015. The launch is scheduled for this date in order to inform Members prior to recess and to maximise the opportunity to promote the Festival in advance. 14. As agreed by the SPCB, it is proposed that ticket prices are reviewed in order to maximise sales and income generation whilst remaining competitive compared with other festivals in August. Therefore, it is proposed that full price tickets for all committee room and Members’ Room events increase from £5.00 to £6.00 and concessionary tickets increase from £3.50 to £4.00. It is also proposed that Debating Chamber events are charged at £8.00 full price and £6.00 for concessions as the administrative costs for these events are higher than the other venues. 15. To off-set the increase in prices, we are proposing a package ticket deal for festivalgoers whereby if tickets are purchased for two similar events a deduction is offered. For example, if a ticket for Who Will Win America? (£6.00/£4.00) is purchased alongside the screening of All The President’s Men (£6.00/£4.00), then instead of £12.00/£8.00, the festivalgoer would pay £10.00/£7.00 for both events, the same price as last year. The SPCB is asked to consider this and agree the new ticketing structure for committee, Members’ Room and Debating Chamber events as set out above. Resource Implications 16. The overall costs for the Festival will come from within budgets already allocated. Publication Scheme 17. This Paper can be published once the programme has been announced. Decision 18. The SPCB is invited to consider this Paper and: 18.1 approve the draft programme for the 2015 Festival of Politics as set out in Annex A; and 18.2 agree the new ticketing structure for committee, Members’ Room and Debating Chamber events as set out in paragraphs 12 and 13. EVENTS AND EXHIBITONS TEAM May 2015 ANNEX A FESTIVAL OF POLITICS 2015 Friday 14 August Scotland and Slavery 16:30-18:00 Debating Chamber £8.00/£6.00 While Scotland likes to promote its role in the abolition of slavery, the uncomfortable truth that Scots were also involved in the earlier exploitation of the practise has been somewhat erased from our history books. What was the real role of Scots in the slave trade and what was the legacy? Eminent historian and author Sir Tom Devine will give a lecture on his book Recovering Scotland’s Slavery past: The Caribbean Connection (EUP). This will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by the Presiding Officer. Panellists include Louise Welsh, author and collaborator on The Empire Café 2014 Commonwealth Games Project on Scotland’s involvement with the North Atlantic Slave Trade, the academic and author Sir Geoff Palmer OBE, and historian Stephen Mullen. A screening of 12 Years A Slave will be shown in the Members’ Room this evening to coincide with this panel. Following the film screening there will be a short panel discussion featuring Sir Geoff Palmer OBE and Glasgow Film Festival Co-Director Allison Gardener (TBC). Please note that a special Festival discount will apply if tickets are bought for this panel and the screening £10.00/£7.00. What does your Commonwealth do for you? 16:30-18:00 £6.00/£4.00 The Commonwealth today is an association of 53 member countries with nearly 2.5 billion citizens spread across the globe. Detractors perceive it as nothing better than a post- colonial club with very little influence. Its supporters say it promotes democracy, good government and human rights and economic development. Join Chair former BBC special correspondent Allan Little (TBC) to discuss the future of the Commonwealth with Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General and former Indian High Commissioner to the UK; journalist Yasmin Alibhai Brown; writer and historian William Dalrymple (TBC) and Professor Philip Murphy, Director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies. The Democratic Challenge 16:30-18:00 £6.00/£4.00 Voter apathy has become a common complaint from political parties – yet changes could be afoot with overall voting turn out in Scotland at the recent general election at 71.1 %, with that figure rising to 85% in the Referendum last year.