We hold a series of networking and learning sessions for artists, producers and venues in the lead up to the festival.
These are a great opportunity for you to meet the WAF team and get the most out of taking part.
We offer online toolkits and guidance, and a 1-1 clinic session for more specific advice on realising your ideas and fundraising, including making an application to our grant scheme.
Please note, the dates below may change – keep an eye on this page and on our social media channels for further updates, or sign up to our Creative Practitioners mailing list.
Creatives Sessions
Session 1: Introduction to WAF 2024
Tuesday 19 September 2023, 6pm - 7.30pm on Zoom
Meet the team and talk about ideas for getting involved with WAF 7 - 23 June 2024.
We'll cover:
- Introductions to the WAF team.
- Expressions of Interest: How to get involved.
- The economics of taking part in WAF: What to expect and how to raise funding.
- The WAF Grants: How to apply.
To get the Zoom sign up to our Creative Practitioners mailing list or complete an Expression of Interest form.
Session 2: How to Take Part
Tuesday 24 October 2023, 6pm - 7.30pm on Zoom
Meet the team and talk about ideas for getting involved with WAF 7 - 23 June 2024.
We'll cover:
- Getting involved: Step by Step
- Finding a venue
- WAF Grants
To get the Zoom sign up to our Creative Practitioners mailing list or complete an Expression of Interest form.
Session 3: WAF Artists and Venues Matchmaking & Registrations
Tuesday 28 November 2023, 6pm - 7.30pm on Zoom
An opportunity for WAF Creatives to meet the Venues! You can start looking for your venues now on our WAF Venue Directory.
We'll also be providing guidance on the registration process for Early Birds.
To get the Zoom sign up to our Creative Practitioners mailing list or complete an Expression of Interest form.
Session 4: Access
TBC January 2024
Session 5: WAF Registration support
Tuesday 9 January 2024, 6pm - 7.30pm on Zoom
Help with your WAF online registrations and guidance on creating your event listings.
We'll cover:
- Completing registrations via My Fringe
- Providing great copy, images and other media for your listing
To get the Zoom sign up to our Creative Practitioners mailing list or complete an Expression of Interest form.
Session 6: WAF Ticketing & Registration support
Tuesday 6 February 2024, 6pm - 7.30pm
Help with your WAF online registrations plus an opportunity to discuss pricing strategies and ticketing.
We'll cover:
- Completing registrations via My Fringe
- How to price your events realistically
- Creating your own ticket offers (and the low down on our multi-buy and artist offers)
- Complimentary tickets
- How our Box Office system works
To get the Zoom sign up to our Creative Practitioners mailing list or complete an Expression of Interest form.
Session 7: Marketing
Tuesday 12 March 2024, 6pm - 7.30pm
Advice and support for marketing your WAF event. We'll talk you through our publicity campaign, provide advice for creating marketing and audience development plans, and answer any questions.
To get the Zoom sign up to our Creative Practitioners mailing list or complete an Expression of Interest form.
Session 8: Evaluation
w/c 6 May 2024, time TBC
For all participating WAF artists and collaborators although we strongly recommend attendance from WAF Grantees.
Evaluation is a process of finding out how a project or activity is working/has worked, what difference it has made to those involved, and what can be learnt. Anyone can do evaluation, and it can be fun and creative too. It can help you plan future projects and activities, make decisions about what you do, document and tell the story of your work, and evidence your impact to others.
To get the Zoom sign up to our Creative Practitioners mailing list or complete an Expression of Interest form.
Post-festival reflections and evaluation
Tuesday 23 July 2024, 6pm - 7.30pm
Let's share our learnings from this year: we'll share our stats and anything we have learnt this year, and you can tell us what you thought of it all and what you have found out too!
To get the Zoom sign up to our Creative Practitioners mailing list or complete an Expression of Interest form.
WAF Grant Surgeries
- Tuesday 10 October, 5.30pm - 8pm on Zoom - FULL
- Wednesday 18 October, 2pm - 4pm on Zoom - FULL
- Wednesday 25 October, 5.00pm - 7.00pm on Zoom - FULL
Book a 1-2-1 surgery with the WAF producers to ask questions about your WAF Grants application - email cath.mattos@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk to book your session.
Please note: You need to have completed an Expression Of Interest form before you can be offered a surgery slot. Grants surgeries are in high demand, so each artist/organisation can benefit from one grant surgery only each year. We advise you have a go at filling out the application form and budget before your surgery to get the most out of your session. One-off questions can be emailed directly to WAF Producer Cath Mattos at any point after completing your EOI.