Big Tent Ideas Festival & Leaders’ Summit
Role: Festival Director
Location: Coventry, UK (UK City of Culture 2021)
Format: Multi-stage festival and hybrid event
Client: Big Tent Ideas Festival
Overview
Led the delivery of the Big Tent Ideas Festival 2021 and Leaders’ Summit, a major ideas festival bringing together political leaders, policymakers, journalists, academics and cultural figures to discuss the key issues shaping society.
Delivered in partnership with Coventry UK City of Culture Trust and RADIX UK, the festival formed part of the Coventry City of Culture programme and created a platform for debate, collaboration and thought leadership across politics, media and civil society.
Scale
Multi-stage festival programme
26 sessions across the festival and summit
70+ speakers including government ministers, civic leaders and leading commentators
Delivered in person and live streamed across multiple platforms
Work delivered
Directed the overall planning and delivery of the festival and associated Leaders’ Summit
Managed programme development and speaker coordination across a large and diverse line-up
Led event logistics, production planning and multi-stage programming
Coordinated delivery across multiple partners including Coventry UK City of Culture Trust and RADIX UK
Oversaw marketing, communications and PR activity to support audience engagement
Managed the integration of live streaming to extend the event’s reach beyond the physical venue
Impact
The festival successfully brought together leaders from politics, media and civil society to explore major social and political issues in a dynamic public forum. The hybrid format expanded the event’s reach beyond the live audience and helped establish the Big Tent Ideas Festival as a significant platform for public debate and thought leadership.
Digital programme (2020)
Ahead of the 2021 festival, a series of public and private digital events were delivered featuring over 80 speakers, including figures such as Jeremy Hunt MP, Janine di Giovanni, John Humphrys, Baroness Hunt, Lord Blunkett, Nimco Ali OBE and Lord Boateng. These events helped build momentum for the festival and significantly expanded its audience and profile.
