HERE TODAY GONE TOMORROW? Major events and why we do them

Bradford 2025

Join us for a day of provocation, discussion, learning and future planning around the impact and legacy of time limited major events.

University of Bradford

From LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture and Bradford 2025, UK City of Culture, in partnership with Spirit of 2012. Supported by Our Year -Wakefield District 2024, Kirklees Year of Music, Culturedale, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority &amp; Bradford University. Join us for a day of provocation, discussion, learning and future planning around the impact and legacy of time limited major events. With contributions from people who have been there and done that in cities across the UK and Europe, we invite you to spend the day with us in West Yorkshire where all five districts are going on a unique journey of major events between 2023 – 2025. Expect great Yorkshire hospitality and performances, provocations and top tips from a range of influential speakers. Including a big welcome by Mayor Tracy Brabin. We would love for you to join us to address challenges and contribute to a better collective understanding of why we do major events and how we might need to change the approach. Tickets are free, but capacity is limited so please only send a maximum of 2 representatives if you are an organisation. The event is aimed at policy makers, major event experts and stakeholders, funders, local authorities and researchers.

The Awakening from LEEDS 2023, photo by JMA photographythe image shows a group of about 20 people looking tiny in across a huge stadium stage in front of a large crowd, the stage is lit with shades of purple

Funded by Spirit of 2012 and West Yorkshire Combined Authority

Agenda

Includes a selection of hot drinks, cold drinks and pastries

Registration and morning refreshments

Opening performance

Welcome note from Mayor Tracy Brabin of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, followed by the opening keynote by Sjoerd Bootsma.

Sjoerd Bootsma is the Artistic Director of Arcadia, the legacy body from Leeuwarden-Fryslan European Capital of Culture 2018, as well as an advisor and conceptor for large scale cultural and artistic events.

Welcome and opening keynote

Chaired by Dr Beatriz Garcia, a pioneer on cultural impact and legacy of mega-events, this discussion will bring together industry leaders in data, research and evaluation to discuss the future of evaluating major events. As well as explore challenges in evaluation as a learning, advocacy and communication tool. Panellists include Jonothan Neelands, Paul Connell, Amy Finch and Tile Von Damm


Panel 1 – Evaluation: Are we measuring the right things? 

Chaired by Selina Ocean, a creative marketer who has delivered major campaigns relating to climate action and celebrating the environment, this panel will explore the innovations and challenges relating to Climate Action in major events. Joined by experts from arts, culture and sports backgrounds, the panel will question the role of major events within the climate crisis and the tensions that come with being a temporary intervention. Panellists include Feimatta Conteh, Catherine Baxendale, Helen Freudenberg and Jamie Saye.

Panel 2 –Climate Action: Can major events provide solutions for climate change

Includes a hot bowl lunch of curry and rice.

Lunch

Afternoon performance

Case studies session

Includes a selection of hot drinks, cold drinks and cakes

Afternoon refreshments

Chaired by Toni-Dee Paul, an artist and facilitator currently working for Selina Thompson Ltd as Associate Director, this conversation will explore the innovations and challenges relating to accessibility in major events. What knowledge do we need to share with delivery bodies? Are we embedding access into our approach to programming and producing large scale events? What are the governance mechanisms needed to make sure we’re evaluating this work effectively? Panellists include Dr Will Renel, Alison Colborn, Jay Millard and Gill Crawshaw.

Panel 3 – Access: Are we doing enough? 

Chaired by Skinder Hundal MBE (Director of Arts British Council), this discussion will explore how we better connect to and learn from our international peers. How do we maintain our international connections, and remain part of a Global ecosystem? Bringing together international leaders in major events and cultural infrastructure. Panellists include Karishma Bhaghani, Claire McColgan, Phil Batty and Sami Ylisaari.

Panel 4 – International: Not just an island.

Raidene Carter is the Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Artadmin with 20+ years experience performing arts and major event delivery, most recently as Executive Producer for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games cultural programme and as Creative Director for Birmingham Festival.