In collaboration with partner festival Arts by the Sea, this September Without Walls hosted an online webinar for its partners to share practical tips and advice on delivering COVID-secure Outdoor Events.

Over the summer Without Walls engaged freelance Production Manager, Mat Ort, to work closely with Without Walls-supported artists and companies to create, rehearse and present their work safely within social distancing guidelines.

Mat shared his learnings following Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, the first full outdoor festival to take place following the pandemic, as well as practical tools and information for event organisers that he has gathered from across the sector.

The session took place on 16 September 2020 ahead of the reformatted Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival and brought together a number of partners from across the Without Walls network. Attendees had the opportunity to ask the panellists questions about their specific circumstances and challenges.

The webinar was facilitated by Mat Ort, Without Walls Production Manager and included contributions by:

• Pete Gunson, Artistic Director, Pif Paf Theatre
• Andrea Francis, Festival Director, Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival (Touring Network Partnership member)

You can re-watch the session and download Mat Ort’s presentation slides below.

As part of an ongoing collaboration with Arts by the Sea festival we hosted a further online session on 7 October 2020.  The Journey Back to the Outdoors: Programming Outdoor Arts events in times of Covid explored the emerging new approaches to curating and programming outdoor events following the COVID-19 outbreak. This event was a timely opportunity to reflect on alternative festival models which programmers are taking forwards, following the delivery of the reformatted Arts by the Sea festival (25 September – 4 October), Newham Unlocked (14-16 August) and Greenwich + Docklands International Festival (28 August – 12 September).

Speakers included:

• Amy Grundy, Creative Coordinator, Arts By The Sea Festival / From the Fields
• Bradley Hemmings MBE, Artistic Director, FESTIVAL.ORG / Greenwich+Docklands International Festival
• Clive Lyttle, Artistic Director, Certain Blacks
• Luke Jerram, Artist
• Vicki Amedume, Artistic Director, Upswing

You can re-watch the webinar recording in the video below.

Everyone within the Outdoor Arts community has been affected by COVID-19, and we have gathered a list of resources for those looking for information, advice and support which you can view HERE.