Inside Out Festival

Project description

This case study was presented at the Engaging Citizens Event by Sally Taylor of the London Centre for Arts and Cultural Exchange (LCACE)

LCACE is a consortium of nine university partners in London. It was established in December 2004 to encourage and promote collaboration between Higher Education and the Arts and Cultural Sector in London. In January 08, the LCACE partners decided to undertake a joint initiative during the course of the next academic year.  It was proposed that this should take the form of a Festival to showcase the interesting and unexpected contributions which academics make to the arts and cultural scene in London.  This was developed into the 'Inside Out' Festival, an overall brand used for all activities instead of each university being individually credited.

The Inside Out Festival consisted of 41 events covering a wide breadth of art forms, including performances, debates, exhibitions, discussions and workshops, and a conference. Academics from all partner Universities took part and the event helped establish relationships with non university venues including the National Portrait Gallery, Somerset House and Kings Place. As a result of fundraising we were able to use the services of Colman Getty PR who helped to attract media sponsorship from both THES and the Evening Standard, coverage on BBC 4s 'Start the Week' and in The Guardian, Time Out and numerous specialist press and a media partnership with Aesthetica magazine. 

Results/Outcomes

A short survey was carried out amongst all those who had attended events whose emails we received (about 300 in all) and the results show the following:

• 50% of attendees worked/studied in Universities
• 66% of attendees did not know about LCACE prior to the Festival
• 71% said the event they attended definitely met their expectations
• 58% said they would like to attend more events in the future.
• 70% felt that after attending the Festival that Universities make a meaningful contribution to the cultural life of the capital.
• 100% said they would welcome it if the Festival became an annual event.

The festival was funded by London Higher, AHRC, ESRC, Arts Council England and openvizor, and also had sponsorship in kind from Somerset House, venda and apples and snakes.