Curating Festivals: Lineups & Experiences That Speak Volumes Part 2 | S5: EP 15

About this episode

The episode discusses the intricacies of curating festivals, focusing on community, support, and the role of curators in the creative industry.

On Part two of Curating Festivals, we are once again joined by Wanjeri Gakuru , Sheba Hirst and Ayrosh , who bring their own perspective, skills and experience on building festivals that resonate beyond lineups. We will go into building community, how to rally support, funding, and how to navigate behind the scenes crisis like cancellations or a no-show from a guest or artist. From music, literature to film and multidisciplinary arts, this 2-part eps explores how cultural festivals amplify voices, strengthen creative industries and create spaces for exchange. Our conversation also articulated a curator’s role. Key Takeaways from this Episode: Key Takeaways Curation is storytelling, it’s about shaping experiences, not just booking acts. Balance matters, blending mainstream, emerging voices, culture and history keeps festivals fresh and exciting! Festivals build ecosystems: workshops, pop ups and talks are as vital as performances. Scale with intention: growth shouldn’t dilute the festival’s core identity. Impact goes beyond the event: it's great to make money but lasting value is in community and connections. NEXT UP: Safety planning for more inclusive and safer spaces in the…

People in this episode

Host: Anyiko Owoko

Guests: Wanjeri Gakuru, Sheba Hirst, Ayrosh

Topics covered

• festival curation
• community building
• cultural exchange
• creative industries
• event management

Keywords

• festivals
• curation
• community
• cultural festivals
• event planning
• artist management

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