Vancouver Festival and Event Management Masterclass

The Festival and Event Management Masterclass is heading to Vancouver and your opportunity to attend one of the world’s leading festival and event management workshops

Designed for organisers, producers, marketers, venue managers, and cultural leaders, this highly respected programme offers practical insights, innovative ideas, and proven strategies to help create outstanding festivals and events. Participants consistently rate the Masterclass highly for its expert industry knowledge, creative inspiration, and collaborative learning environment. More than 4,000 professionals worldwide have attended the programme, including over 100 participants to our previous workshops in British Columbia.

Here is a small selection of the many organizations in Canada who have benefitted from the Masterclass:

Vancouver International Wine Festival, City of Kamloops, Intrepid Theatre, Calgary High Performance Rodeo, Festivals Kelowna, Surrey International Children’s Festival, City of Red Deer, Reel 2 Reel Film Festival, Saskatchewan Festival of Words, Banff Centre, Tourism Burnaby, Conexus Arts Centre, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Art Gallery of Burlington, Push Festival, Ryga Festival Society, City of Edmonton, Harbourfront Centre Toronto, Alberta Beer Festivals, Flin Flon Arts Council, Edmonton Fringe, Airdrie Festival of Lights, Tourism Medicine Hat, Mount Royal University, City of St. Albert, Sled Island Music and Arts Festival, Arts Council Ontario, Economic Development Regina, Bard on the Beach, Parks Canada and many more. A full list of participating organizations is available in the Who has attended section above.

What You’ll Gain

• Expert insight from internationally respected festival and event specialists
• Practical strategies to strengthen and grow your events
• New ideas and inspiration to innovate and adapt
• Valuable networking opportunities with industry peers

Secure Your Place

• $450 – Early booking (before 30 September)
• $495– Standard booking (after 30 September)
• $375 per person – When more than one person attends from the same organisation

Payment can be made by card, or an invoice can be issued for payment via bank transfer or cheque. Morning and afternoon tea and coffee plus lunch are included in the price.

Programme

Developing Great Festivals and Events

Explore successful festivals, events, and cultural destinations from around the world. This session examines creative programming, operational approaches, audience engagement, and the future role of emerging technologies, including AI.

People and Partnerships

Learn how successful festivals build strong teams, develop effective leadership, and create meaningful partnerships with stakeholders, sponsors, and collaborators.

Programming

Discover innovative programming strategies that strengthen audience engagement, enhance identity, and create memorable event experiences.

Sponsorship and Fundraising

Gain practical guidance on securing sponsorship, building long-term partnerships, and developing sustainable income streams.

Festivals, Tourism and Placemaking

Examine how festivals and events contribute to destination branding, tourism development, and community identity.

Festival Marketing

Explore effective marketing strategies used by leading festivals, including branding, digital communication, audience development, and promotional campaigns that drive attendance and engagement.

Venues and Festival Infrastructure

Learn how to maximise venue potential, improve operational infrastructure, and deliver safe, sustainable, high-quality events.

Working with the Media

Understand how to build strong media relationships, increase visibility, and manage communications effectively.

Impact and Evaluation

Discover practical tools for measuring economic, social, and cultural impact while strengthening long-term event success

   The Presenter

Paul Gudgin has worked in the festival industry for over 30 years on major events including the Aldeburgh Festival, City of London Festival, and Durham International Brass Festival. He spent eight highly successful years as Director of the world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe during a dynamic period which saw the event double in size. Recognised as a leading expert in festival and event management, Paul received the Arts and Business Scotland Award for Leadership and an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh. He has delivered training for organisations worldwide, including the British Council, Events Tasmania and the National Arts Council of Korea. Paul created the Festival and Event Management Masterclass to pass on the benefit of his considerable festival and event experience.

Feedback

You’re sharing so much practical knowledge and brilliant examples, I got one a-ha moment after another. LOTS of useful ideas (and energy!) to bring back home. Hilmarfestivalen

Amazing ideas to not only reinvent my events but also reinvent our town. Rural City of Wangaratta

I had the most wonderful experience. It’s great to go to a course that gives you tangible and useful information that you can go away and implement yourself. I highly recommend this Masterclass! Feast Festival

The course was well planned and insightful. Paul has loads of experience, is confident in himself, yet informal and easy to talk with, and great at involving the participants. I would recommend the course both for learning and motivational purposes.  Nordland Music Festival

The breadth of the course content was astounding, and sprinkled with creative brainstorming sessions that had me coming away with tons of great ideas to apply to our Festival. Saskatoon Festival of Trees

More feedback from past participants can be found in the feedback section of this site.

Cancellation Policy

• 10 days or more before the course start date: Full refund
• 2–9 days before the course start date: 50% refund
• Less than 2 days before the course start date: 25% refund