Role of the Festivals Council Representative

Overview of responsibilities

The Festivals Council Representative is a volunteer role whose key aim is to build relationships with festivals in the Region / Forum, to offer support and guidance and to help the festivals to run in accordance with the principles as outlined in the Code of Good Practice for BIFF Festival Members. The Representative is also responsible for assessing new festival applications within the Region / Forum.

Festival visits

• Ensure that each festival in the Region / Forum receives a visit, which is at least every 3 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and every 5 years in Scotland.
• Should have access adequate transport to enable visits to festivals where required.
• Expenses for festival visits may be claimed back in accordance with BIFF’s Expenses Policy

Reviewing new BIFF festival applications

• Carry out the initial meeting with new applicants, offering advice and support where required and assess the application for provisional festival membership. 
• Follow up with a live festival visit to assess the festival for full BIFF festival membership. 

Festivals' Council meetings

• Play a full and active role in the work of the Festivals Council.
• Make decisions / vote at Festivals Council meetings on behalf of the members of the Region / Forum. 
• Ensure that matters discussed at Festivals Council meetings and declared “Confidential” are not disclosed. 

Regional / Forum meetings

• Assist in the planning of Regional / Forum meetings in liason with the other officers.
• Along with the Chair of the Region / Forum, ensure that issues relating to members are properly addressed.
• As the liaison between the membership and the Region / Forum, share any relevant matters which have arisen at Festivals Council meetings which are not subject to confidentiality.
• Note any problems/issues/questions raised by members at the meetings to take back to the Festivals Council for discussion.
• Contribute to the work of the Region / Forum, encouraging attendance at meetings, BIFF annual conference, etc.

Person specification

• Experience with festival activities, ideally as part of a BIFF festival committee or working as a volunteer at a BIFF festival.
• The ability to be supportive of the festival and where appropriate, be prepared to give help and advice in a friendly manner.
• The ability to act sensitively towards the festival and festival volunteers when addressing any issues arising.
• Willing act as an ambassador for BIFF and have sufficient knowledge of the organisation to converse cohesively. 

Support for this role

Support will be provided for this role will be provided by the BIFF team, the Board of Trustees and the Chair and other members of the Festivals Council.