Get your nominations in for the UK Festival Awards

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE UK FESTIVAL AWARDSApplications have now opened for the Festival Awards UK. Almost all of the Awards are voted for by the fans, and the public can vote for categories that include Best Major, Medium and Small Festival, The Grassroots Festival Award, Best Family-Friendly Festival and of course…Best Toilets. Public voting in the Awards is weighted by attendance, so smaller capacity events have an equal chance against the larger ones. Our own 'Greener Festival Award' for the greenest of the green UK festivals will also be made on the day and we are hoping as many festivals as possible who took part in our Greener Festival Awards scheme can turn up to pick up their 'bottle' trophy and have their photo taken with us and Greener Festival Awards sponsor Roberston Taylor insurance brokers. Other awards, such as Best Line-Up, Promoter of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award are decided by judging panels made up of industry experts and journalistsTo have an event included on the long-list, organisers need to fill out a short application form at http://uk.festivalawards.com/index.cfm/apply/  by 12 September.Last year almost 500,000 votes were cast.  The winners are announced on 18 November at a gala ceremony at Indigo2 at The O2 in London, which attracts over 1,000 people from the industry.The Awards are preceded by the Festival Awards UK Conference, which takes place at the British Music Experience at The O2 also on 18 November. Again with six panel discussions, networking opportunities and a drinks reception, it offers plenty of chances to debate solutions to common challenges and improve contacts.Among topics this year will be ways of tackling crime at festivals, the challenges presented by non-ticketed events, the growing involvement of brands in the industry and how to make a festival more profitable. Media partners include Live UK, TPI, IQ, Audience, Brand Republic and Music Week.Tickets for the Festival Awards UK Conference & Awards 2010 have now gone on sale via the exclusive ticketing platform HMV Tickets and are available in the following price structures. Delegates wishing to attend the Conference and/or Award events can combine ticket packages to suit their needs:Platinum Ticket £145

• • Table seat for Festival Awards show with some complimentary drinks at Indigo2 (12 seats per table; option to buy full table available)
• • Three-course gourmet meal with wine
• • Entry to UKFA after-show party
• • Delegate Bag

Conference only £60

• • Full conference delegate pass to all sessions at British Music Experience, The O2, London
• • Copy of the UK Festival Report
• • Drinks reception
• • Delegate Bag

Awards only £30

• • Mezzanine access to the Awards show at IndigO2, London
• • Entry to after-show party

More information on the Festival Awards UK Conference & Awards 2010 can be found at www.festivalawards.comand www.festivalconference.com, while tickets can be purchased directly from HMV Tickets by visitingwww.hmvtickets.com/festivalawards/events/1311