Sustainable Festival Management with Professional Placement

Engage with the future of festivals as part of this cutting-edge course.

It’s a fascinating time for the global festival industry; it’s seeing rapid growth while embracing exciting new technologies. Increasing demand for experiential entertainment is driving innovation, while the sector is also grappling with the importance of inclusivity, accessibility and sustainability.

Based in a creative arts institution, partnered with the pioneering Eden Project and located in a region with a thriving festival scene, this course is at the forefront of the future of festivals.

You’ll explore the business of festivals, getting to grips with the essential matters of finance, marketing and project management, while gaining hands-on industry experience and putting your ideas into practice, running your own events or working with venues in Cornwall and further afield.

You’ll graduate as a confident, resilient festival manager, with the ability to affect positive change that will benefit festival organisations, attendees, communities and the environment.

Why study this course at Falmouth?
You’ll gain the skills, knowledge and insights to manage successful festivals, from music festivals, to those focusing on literature, food, comedy and more
You’ll get real experience organising live events and engaging with industry, while benefiting from the breadth of leading sector expertise at the Eden Project, host of the Eden Sessions
You’ll learn from specialist staff with experience in music, events, hospitality, technical and entrepreneurial backgrounds, as well as relevant research interests
You’ll develop a range of project management skills – essential for the fast-moving and ever-changing contemporary festival industry
This course is accredited by both A Greener Future and Attitude is Everything, placing you at the forefront of current thinking on inclusivity, accessibility and sustainability

This Sustainable Festival Management degree is accredited by A Greener Future and Attitude is Everything; two organisations championing sustainability and inclusivity in live events.

You’ll learn creative and innovative approaches to festival design, gain a firm grounding in planning and management processes, and develop skills in marketing, managing resources and engaging with clients.

You’ll study a range of topics in operations, crisis management, wellbeing, sustainability and marketing and communication.

Through live projects, field trips and guest lectures, you’ll also gain hands-on and up to the minute industry experience, as well as developing essential teamworking skills.

Year one:
The first year is all about developing a knowledge of the nature, scope and scale of the festival industry. Leading towards delivering your first collaborative event, you’ll explore all aspects of attendee experience, learn to understand the importance of wellbeing within the industry, design promotional communications, and investigate the complexities and contradictions that surround sustainable development.

Modules:
The Festival Industry
The Attendee Experience
Live Production Management
Wellbeing
Exploring Sustainability
Promotional Communications

Year two:
In year two, you’ll develop a more specialist, operational knowledge of sustainable festival management. You’ll apply research methods and gain further critical analysis and reflection skills across a range of modules supported by tutors, with a growing emphasis on independence and collaborative working.

You’ll also devise and deliver a live festival event and continue to develop skills in professionalism and communication.

Modules
Festival Design
Project Management
Research Methods
Festival Operations
Financial Management
Collaborative Working

Year Three:
You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the employability team.

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying.

How you’ll study during your professional placement:
You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks.

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation.

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth.

Year four:
In the final year, you’ll work towards delivering a final live event project while preparing for your future career in industry.

You’ll continue to develop a range of practical skills including crisis management and ethical and creative leadership. You’ll also enhance your specialist knowledge by applying advanced research skills.

Modules:
Crisis Management
Festival Development
Professional Development
Festival Management
Futures Research
Leadership

As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.

100% of your assessment will be coursework.

Assessment methods:
Practical assessments include crisis management simulation, digital and industry presentations, and the development of your own festival events
Coursework assignments that reflect real world outputs, including a portfolio of promotional communications, a grant funding bid and project initiation document (PID)
Two research projects will give you the opportunity to explore areas that you are passionate about
Continuous assessment through visual, verbal and written assignments