Crowd saftey graduates !

Another group of students have graduated with degrees and foundation degrees in Crowd Safety Management  from Bucks New University, celebrating their big day at a ceremony at the Swan Theatre in High Wycome and then at the University's campus.  Pictures are 2014 graduates in front of Buck's Gateway Building with staff members Stuart Kirk, Emma Parkinson and Ben Challis.

What fans want - green events - and their favourite band!!

A new survey from Buckinghamshire New University and music industry campaign group A Greener Festival of nearly 2,300 festival fans from around the World shows that the public is increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of events – but – when it came down to it, would prioritise getting to see their favourite band over environmental issues. The research asked festival fans fifteen questions on green issues. Fans responded from 32 countries worldwide and the survey was supported by festivals including Glastonbury, Open Air St Gallen in Switzerland, Melt! Festival in Germany, The Cambridge Folk Festival, Illosaarirock in Finland and the Oya Festival in Norway. 

When asked the question: Where do you think festival’s have a negative environmental impact? fans identified noise (76.5%), waste (87.4%), CO2 emissions (56.1%), water wastage  (55.3%), traffic  (81.4%) and land damage (65.5%) as major issues - but most felt that it was the festival organiser  who should be responsible for reducing the impact of the event (90.0% of fans), compared to 30.3% who thought local authorities should be responsible and 79.7% who thought festival goers themselves should be.

86.6% fans said they would support recycling initiatives although Claire O’Neill from A Greener Festival said “whilst 86.6% of fans say they will recycle – we know that a substantial minority – probably one in five – leave tents and other camping gear behind at festivals which causes a huge headache for organisers – and the environment. A whopping 86% supported the composting of food waste. The results give ammunition to event organisers, on-site catering teams, bars and stall holders to implement environmentally friendly practices, which a large majority of the audience actually want

28.1% of festival fans said they did consider a festival’s environmental impact when choosing to go to an event (up from 21.8% in a similar survey 2008) but the majority of did not with 25.4% not sure. When asked if they would go to an event if their favourite band was playing – even of the event had no green policies – 86.5% of fans said that they would still go.

Photo: Denis O'Regan (c) 2011 Glastonbury Festivals Ltd

http://www.agreenerfestival.com/

Elon launches new management stable

Elton John has announced details of the Rocket Music Entertainment Group - set up by the singer songwriter after parting ways with Twenty-First Artists, the management. Artistes managed by the group will include Elton himself and James Blunt, Lilly Allen, Just Jack, Dirty Vegas, Pnau and Marina & The Diamonds. The new management team includes Frank Presland as Chairman, Todd Interland as CEO, John Barbis as Chairman North America, Mike Tierney as GM, and Will Ashurst as COO.

Final line up announced for Green Events and Innivations

Green Events and Innovations – Keynotes, Panels and Presentations

09.30am Registration opens (please arrive at the Gateway Building, Buckinghamshire New University and you will be directed over to the conference room (N3.06)

10.15am Introducing the Greener Festival Award: Presented by Helen Wright, A Greener Festival : The Greener Festival Award is now in its 5th year and is recognised internationally as a prestigious independent assessment of sustainability and environmental good practice. This session aims to allow delegates the opportunity to understand how the scheme works and what criteria are used in assessing festivals.

11.00am Waste Management Solutions: Presented by Andy Willcott, Network Recycling Network Recycling are acknowledged experts in providing waste management solutions to festival and Andy Willcott will provide a presentation on practical and effective waste management regimes for festivals. The presentation will follow a group discussion on the opportunities and challenges ahead for reducing and managing event waste most effectively.

12.00pm Measuring GHG Emissions: Presented by Helen Heathfield, Julies BicycleEstablished in 2007 by and for the UK music industry, Julie’s Bicycle is a non-profit company working with the creative industries to co-ordinate and catalyse best practice in sustainability and develop cultural leadership around climate issues to reduce the sector’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. JB help organisations understand their carbon impacts and take responsibility for reducing them by providing clear, practical advice and support, based on the best available research, tools and which will be explained by Helen Heathfield, Julies Bicycle’s Associate Director for Energy & The Environment.

1:00pm Lunch Break: Lunch is not provided but there are two cafeterias at Bucks New University: Rusty Bucks in the Gateway Building (ground floor) and Beats (1st floor) as well as a number of pubs and restaurants in the centre of High Wycombe, just 5 minutes walk away.

2.00pm Keynote: The Role of Arts in Climate Change. Ben Challis

2.30pm PANEL: Sustainable Power Solutions Whilst travel is known to be the highest contributor to a green field event’s GHG emissions, on site power is something that is possibly more within the control of organizers, and area where a demand from green solutions is seen to be rising in conjunction with some of the technological advancements of our society. This panel brings together a range of expertise on power – from festival organisers, education, long established generator and large scale power providers, to those with smaller scale innovative solutions. The panel will discuss what is available on the market at present, what is being done, what are future the challenges, and where do we go from here? Panelists: Andy Mead (Firelfly Solar) Juliet Ross-Kelly (Eco Action Partnership, Isle of Wight Festival) Helen Heathfield (Julies Bicycle) Sam Jenner (Eco Charge Technologies) Rob Hutchinson (Innovation Power) Tom Davidson(Buffalo Power) and Moderator: Claire O’Neill(AIF / A Greener Festival)

3.45pm PANEL: Travel Solution for Music FestivalsWith audience travel now acknowledged as the biggest contributor to the music industry’s carbon footprint, panellists will discuss what festivals are doing to reduce car travel to festivals. Questions to be asked include what are the most and least polluting options of travel? Are there any new initiatives on the horizon? And what works and what doesn’t? Panellists Lucy Brooking Clarke (Glastonbury Festival) Kevin Green (Big Green Coach) Zoe Burton (Liftshare.com) Robin Bennett (Wood/Truck festivals) and Moderator: Teresa Moore(Bucks New Uni)

5.15pm Drinks Reception and 6.30pm Close