What if
we had better
conversations?

What if
we had better
conver-
sations?

What if we
took more time
to think and feel?

What if
life was more
like a festival?

Projects

EnAbling Change: Accessibility Sessions

Learning series on accessibility in the performing arts

Production advice for Orchestras Canada (CAN)

2022

Experience design for a digital learning series exploring accessibility in the performing arts with disability rights activists and artists

Watch
Piloting
Facilitation
Producing

Audience Growth: Theory & Practice

Re-thinking audience relationship for small organisations

Commissioned by Northern Jazz Promoters (UK) 

2022

Designing and delivering a 2-part interactive workshop on audience growth for jazz promoters in Newcastle, Wakefield, Leeds & Manchester.

Explore
Facilitation

Transplanting Practice: from Inspiration to Action

Using case studies to develop collaborative competencies

Commissioned by Orchestras Canada (CAN)

Co-designed with Hill Strategies

2022

Designing and delivering an in-person workshop for orchestral players and managers to foster discussions on organisational and sectoral change based on Hill Strategies’ case studies developed for the “Innovation and Resilience in the Arts, Culture and Heritage” research project.

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Facilitation
Research
Piloting

NEWS

After Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), SPRING Festival (Utrecht), and CaDance Festival (Den Haag) in May, Art of Festivals will take part in CPH Stage (Copenhagen), IETM Plenary Aarhus and ISPA Manchester in June for the opening of Factory International.

“Art cannot be more urgent.” First presented inside Utrecht’s central train station, RELIQUIEM takes audiences on an audio tour of the ever-growing movement-archive conceived by Katja Heitmann, guided by people who have donated their stories and gestures – and those of their loved ones – to become part of our shared heritage.

After collecting the everyday movements of over 1,500 people and presenting them in live exhibitions in multiple cities, Katja Heitmann presents a new work drawn from the movement-archive at SPRING Festival (Utrecht, 19-21 May), CaDance (Den Haag, 27-29 May) then touring to Den Bosch, Eindhoven, Düsseldorf and more to be confirmed. Art of Festivals is developing international relationships to bring Motus Mori artworks to new cities and produce commissioning frameworks for new creations.

Conceived by Sunny Drake, written by 9 international playwrights, co-produced with companies from Australia, India, Mauritius, Nigeria, Chile and Canada, and lead-produced by Art of Festivals, Climate Change and Other Small Talk reached #3 in Canada, #3 in Nigeria, #1 in India and #1 in Poland in the Apple Podcasts charts for Comedy Fiction in its first week.

More News

Testimonials

"Fanny Martin and Art of Festivals are some of my favourite collaborators for projects that require innovative thinking and creative producing. As a theatre-maker, I'd describe them as project and producing "dramaturgs": they ask thoughtful questions, diligently craft a project's goals and vision and make sure that we're on track. They excel at creating collaborative digital spaces for engaging teams and participants on digital platforms. Oh, and the Art of Festivals team is a riot to work with - meetings are so much fun!"

Sunny Drake, playwright

"Fanny brings such refreshing perspectives on how we can bring people together - online or in person - in ways that feel human, genuine, and respectful. We've all learned so much from her, and can't wait to work with her again. She wasn't afraid to challenge us in a productive way either. She is creative and intentional about bringing people into a space, whether that's online or in person. Also just great to work with - responsive, helpful, reliable."

Katherine Carleton, Executive Director

Orchestras Canada
"Fanny’s facilitation and planning of the IETM Belgrade 2022 Canadian delegation was outstanding, and helped encourage connections in a variety of contexts. I left feeling energized, inspired, and connected to a global community of theatre professionals."

Tom Carson, Executive Director

Smile Theatre
"It's very reassuring working with Fanny Martin. There's an emphasis on designing and learning together and being responsive to what is happening in the moment. Fanny's keen understanding of the arts and culture sector and areas of opportunities for sector advancement is brought forward in every step of the planning. Moreover, Fanny finds and brings out elements of joy and motivation during sessions - even when the topic is heavy!"

Stephanie Draker, Program Manager

WorkInCulture
"Art of Festivals did a great job of designing a multi-track programme that showed a deep understanding of the needs of our audience. They also went above and beyond in the contributor briefing process with detailed briefs, rehearsals and technical orientations on the platform. This resulted in high quality and well pitched speaker contributions and engaging panel discussions."

Tamsin Curror, Communications Manager

Centre for Cultural Value
“Fanny is extremely cogent and articulate about the vital topic of the arts’ relationship with other dimensions of society.”

Graham Devlin CBE, Arts Consultant

“Fanny’s ability to hold things together, along with her depth of strategic thinking and insight, are greatly valued.”

Peter Wiegold, Artistic Director

Club Inégales / Third Orchestra
“This was one of the best online events I’ve attended in a while, everything from the logistics, planning, communications to the event itself was flawless and extremely professional.”

Louis-Etienne Dubois, Associate Professor

Ryerson University
“Fanny was absolutely fantastic to work with! She brought our project to a much higher level than we could have achieved without her! Her commitment, passion, expertise, contact, production skills, and attention to detail were all invaluable. I learned a great deal and feel that my own future work will be better for having worked with Fanny.”

Natalie Dewan, Program Associate

Ontario Presents
“Art of Festivals was clear and direct. They provided fresh, new ideas about how to reach out to audiences and speakers and I appreciated the direction, ideas, and care given to our event. Art of Festivals was also impeccably organised!”

Meaghan Froh Metcalf, Network and Programs Director

Ontario Culture Days

COLLABORATORS

ARTISTS & PROJECTS

CREATIVE PRODUCERS

DESIGN & MEDIA

Big Guy Studio
Art direction & graphic design
Cinematoscape
Videography
Glow Digital
Web & graphic design

ABOUT

We are guided by critical reflection on ethics, politics and aesthetics in everything we do, including where we work, who we work and don’t work with, how we work with individuals and institutions, and why we persist in producing bespoke structures for art & dialogue. 


Fanny Martin, Creative Director 

Helena Grdadolnik, Chair

Deborah Brewster, Secretary

Peter Martin, Treasurer

Art of Festivals is a member of CIPA (Creative & Independent Producer Alliance), IETM (International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts) and Outdoor Arts UK.