Festival Focus 2024

Festival Focus is OAUK’s professional development opportunity which offers those working in, or considering working in Outdoor Arts, the chance to attend a variety of festivals across the UK as part of a small cohort.

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Welcome to OutdoorArtsUK 

OutdoorArtsUK is the home for performance in outdoor spaces! We support everything from street acrobats to national parades and celebrate work that exists outside buildings reaching the widest audience possible.

From circus to carnival, from music to mela, from processions to puppetry and street dance to street theatre – if you want to see or make outdoor performances, you’re in the right place.

Image: ‘Oystercatchers’ by Red Herring [Photo: Jim Wileman]

OAUK is an Arts Council England-funded support organisation that actively works to underpin the talent and achievements of the individuals, companies and organisations working in Outdoor Arts – one of the most accessible of art forms.

Image: ‘Bonded’ by Alleyne Dance at Norfolk & Norwich Festival [Photo: Lidia Crisafulli]

OAUK advocates for Outdoor Arts to cultural bodies, national and local government organisations and various funding arenas. We support the sector by providing practical information on good working practices and offer advice and guidance for new and experienced practitioners.

Image: Solomon Hunter performing at Derby Caribbean Carnival [Photo: Adaptive Media]

OAUK Members are individuals and organisations who actively participate in Outdoor Arts in their professional work. Our membership includes agents, artists, artistic companies, development organisations, festivals, funding bodies, higher education institutions, independent producers, local authorities, production companies, programmers and venues.

Image: ‘Tape That!’ by Hands Down Circus at Hat Fair [Photo: Adrienne Photography]

OAUK is a professional network which facilitates creative and beneficial connections between our members. We keep them up-to-date with funding, commissioning, training and networking opportunities. We visit numerous festivals to hold a comprehensive knowledge of the latest national and international work and to keep an eye out for emerging artists.

Image: ‘Frock’ by Stopgap Dance and ‘Robot Selfie’ by Kaleider at SO Festival [Photo: Jake Lewis Photography]