Decision details

(TAKE IN REPORT BY THE HEAD OF CITY DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL SERVICES)

Clare Forsyth, Service Development Manager introduced the report. In response to questions the following points were clarified:

·    The sponsors of the CSI event were Bello publishers.  Officers would approach them to see whether they would be willing to sponsor the event next year following the outcome of today's meeting.  Officers would advise members in due course about the sponsorship of next year's event.

·      Officers would research the possibility of funding from larger companies in due course.

·    Members were impressed with the online sales and felt this was an excellent event

DECISIONS

(1)   That the festival is moved to take place in February/March, starting at February half term and ending in World Book Day week in the first week of March. This change would begin in 2016.

(2)   That BookFest seeks to engage with venue partners and cultural

     organisations in the city to programme and deliver events jointly.

(3)   That BookFest retains its programme of local author events and involves authors individually and as groups directly in the planning of the festival.

(4)   That BookFest retains and develops online ticket sales, retains in person sales in libraries and removes telephone sales.

(5)   That Bookfest continues to actively seek external funding and sponsorship from commercial sources