What makes a project a festivalslab project?

Here we share more of our “under-the-bonnet” processes for project assessment.  This document briefly lists the high-level general criteria against which project ideas are assessed.  This is a working document but should hopefully provide more insight into our project development processes.

Lab_project_general_criteria_v1.3.pdf
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Please note that we are not formally soliciting project ideas.  However if you would like to get in touch with us please note these criteria when doing so.

festivalslab teams up with AmbITion as learning partner

In a week of good news, we’re pleased to share the news that we shall be working with AmbITion Scotland as our learning partner.

Given that much of the learning from our work will be relevant to the rest of the cultural sector in Scotland, through AmbITion we shall be helping produce events and materials related to innovation, building on the terrific programme already delivered by the AmbITion team.

In addition, we shall be producing a monthly podcast review especially for the AmbITion community and the wider cultural sector in Scotland which will be available, together with the rest of our blog content, at a shiny new page on their Ning network. 

And here is the first installment:

http://boos.audioboo.fm/swf/fullsize_player.swf

More on needfest – the process for working up projects based on festival needs

needfest_v2.pdf
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As promised, here is more work-in-progress thinking on processes.  Needfest is the cheesy nickname we’re giving to the basic process for identifying and developing project based on needs articulated by the festivals themselves.

This week is the start of a validation exercise to turn this skeleton into specific user journeys for what this means for festival staff.  At the moment, our focus is very much on working with the festivals to fully articulate their practical pathways of involvement with the Lab and therefore those of you out therefore itching for opps to get involved as a third party, please be patient…your time will come!

NB The language is deliberately simple and so apologies if it feels too obvious – I’d rather build on simplicity than complexity!

Processfest

More work in progress, but we thought we'd share it since it's interesting (though we may be wrong).  Do tell us if it's not…tho Google Analytics rarely lies.

festivalslab operating model

Today we’ve drawn the first version of a schematic of the context in which festivalslab and also the groups it aims to connect with

operating_model.pdf
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Ok so some notes by way explanation:

• the lab is a function of Festivals Edinburgh which is an umbrella organisation made up of the twelve city festivals
• the festival labels are shorthand and not the official name of the festivals e.g. Jazz is really Jazz&Blues etc etc
• part of what the Festivals Edinburgh team do is facilitate a number of working groups which develop shared strategic agendas and are made up of representatives from all the festivals
• the Innovation working group (IWG) is different in that it is made up of reps from all the other working groups
• The IWG acts as a strategic decision making group for the Lab…a bit like a board really
• The organisations and types shown on the right hand side are those which the Lab is currently designing processes with which to engage
• The word Creatives is shorthand for performers/artists/producers/thinkers – in other words…the festival talent

Hope that’s useful