MVK_33 Festival organization in theory and practice

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2022
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Martin Kaščák (lecturer)
Mgr. Markéta Polášková (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Ing. František Svoboda, Ph.D.
Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 21. 9. 16:00–17:40 N41, Wed 5. 10. 16:00–17:40 N41, Wed 19. 10. 16:00–17:40 N41, Wed 2. 11. 16:00–17:40 N41, Wed 16. 11. 16:00–17:40 N41, Wed 23. 11. 16:00–17:40 N41
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 22 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 4/22, only registered: 0/22, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/22
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of this course is therefore to introduce students to the complexities of organising festivals, both large-scale and small-scale forms. The course will focus on the following areas: dramaturgy, booking, advancing, hospitality, guiding, backstage management, as well as fundraising, partnerships, ticketing, PR management, marketing or implementation, production, HR management and volunteering, security, infrastructure.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will know the basic principles of festival organisation, will be able to complete the theoretical preparation for a festival and will become familiar with the professional procedures in individual festival sectors.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction Definition of terms, introduction to the subject, familiarization of students with the requirements for taking the course and the topics of individual lectures. Free discussion with the students about what they expect from the course and what they would like to learn, discussion about the end of the course and decision for one of the two options for completion.
  • 2. Dramaturgy, booking, advancing, hospitality, guiding, backstage management Among artists, the quality of festivals is assessed in the quality of services provided by their "riders". In this session, we will go through all the aspects that need to be kept in mind for an artist to feel comfortable at a festival. We will also go through the complete booking process - from initial booking through advancing, artist production, hospitality management, backstage management, guiding and other related topics.
  • 3. Fundraising, partnerships, ticketing The issue of funding plays a crucial role in the development of any cultural event. Every festival faces several fundraising opportunities, the nature of which can be simplistically described as public and non-public support. So what specific funding options are on offer? What are their pros and cons? A theoretical foundation and basic overview will be followed by examples of good practice with commentary from invited guests.
  • 4. PR management, marketing Properly set up PR management and marketing mechanisms contribute significantly to the desired goal - a sold-out and successful event. In this session, we will discuss possible practices within the communication and marketing strategies of festivals, taking into account different target groups. We will focus on case studies of individual festivals, current innovative approaches within festival PR management and other things that a skilled PR manager should never forget in relation to festival PR.
  • 5. Implementation, production, security, infrastructure The safety of visitors at festivals should be a priority for every organiser. It is closely related to festival production and infrastructure. In this session, we will discuss an introduction to Health & Safety standards in this country and around the world, related legislation, planning safety strategies and contingency plans, processes for building and breaking down a festival, crowd and visitor behaviour, harm reduction principles. The lecture will be complemented by specific examples of good and bad practice.
  • 6. Conclusion The final session will consist of two parts. The first part will be devoted to the presentation and defence of the semester projects, which will therefore be subjected to evaluation not only by the lecturers but also by other classmates. More detailed evaluation of the projects will be given in writing by the instructors afterwards. The remainder of the class will consist of an evaluation of the course, the selection of guests, the procedures of the instructors, and an outlook for the next semester.
Literature
    required literature
  • Marketing management (Orig.) : Marketing & management : Marketing management : analýza, plánování, realizace a kontrola [Victoria Publishing, 1992] : Marketing management : analýza, plánování, realizace a kontrola [Victoria Publishing, 1995]. info
  • • The event safety guide (Second edition): A guide to health, safety and welfare at music and similar events. 2. Great Britain: HSE Books, 1999. ISBN: 978-0-7176-2453-9.
    not specified
  • LEDVINOVÁ, Jana. Profesionální fundraising : jak se osvobodit od finanční závislosti. První vydání. V Praze: Akademie múzických umění, 2013, 129 stran. ISBN 9788073312947. info
  • Contemporary issues in marketing management. Edited by Norazah Mohd Suki - Norbayah Mohd Suki. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2011, xvi, 102 p. ISBN 9781617615382. info
  • The provincial music festival in England, 1784-1914. Edited by Pippa Drummond. Burlington, Vt.: Ashgate, 2011, vi, 304 p. ISBN 9781409432814. info
Teaching methods
Lectures and discussions
Assessment methods
The following conditions are prerequisites for the award of credit:
- Minimum participation of at least 75%
- Preparation of the final project according to the instructions of the lecturers, its insertion into the IS hand-in room and its subsequent presentation and defence. Deadline for submission of project proposals mid-semester, submission of the project to IS at the beginning of the examination period.
A. Elaborated group project of a fictional festival (about 10 NS) and its presentation
B. Report/case study on a real event (festival, etc.), on one of its segments (as agreed) and its presentation
C. Another project and its presentation, approved by agreement with the teachers
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2022/MVK_33