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Sponsorship Proposal

ContactOrlando Jopling, Artistic DirectorOrlando@romanrivermusic.org.uk

07808474515

Julie Cuthbert, TrusteeJulie@red-bird.co.uk

07946476336

Roman River Musicwww.romanrivermusic.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1126395

Contact us: 01206 729 356 info@romanrivermusic.org.uk www.romanrivermusic.org.uk

The Roman River Festival is the most prestigious classical music festival in the region, bringing world-class musicians to Essex. Founded in 2000, the 2013 Festival was the biggest yet, consisting of 20 events over 2 weeks (21st September – 6th October), including solo recitals, chamber music, jazz, choral and orchestral concerts and lectures, in 16 venues including a lightship, a nightclub, two art galleries and several rural churches in North Essex. More than 3,000 tickets were sold with an average 85% capacity reached.

As an important part of the Festival, Roman River Music also has an extensive education and outreach programme that takes the same top musicians into schools across the area. The success of this has been widely recognised and Roman River Music won the Essex County Council’s Chairman’s Fund Award in 2011 and 2013: “In recognition of Roman River Music’s commitment and dedication to enrich the lives of young people in their local community”. In 2013 the programme involved over 600 pupils from 20 schools. The goodwill for the Festival is enormous evidenced by the many volunteers prepared to give so much of their time to be part of this. Over the next few years our ambition is to consolidate our reputation as the leading classical music festival in Essex, eventually expanding into a wider range of musical styles, poetry, dance, visual art and theatre.

The aims of the 2013 Festival were:

• Toshowcasetoaudiencesartistswithworldclasstalentandadiverserangeof classical and jazz music • Todevelopnewaudiencesforclassicalandjazzmusicthroughattractingabroader mix of concert attendees, as well as music aficionados • Tocontinuetodevelopournewmodelforprogramminganumberofconcertsin diverse venues, with more challenging and experimental music • Toexpandthewell-establishedschoolsprogrammetoinclude15-19yearolds with their own separate youth section• Toconductaudience/marketresearchtogainabetterunderstandingofaudience needs and market potential in terms of live music promotion.

Introduction

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The Roman River Festival 2013, building on the success of previous years, almost doubled the audience numbers compared with 2012. Notwithstanding this expansion, many concerts quickly sold out.

The Festival was marketed through www.romanrivermusic.org.uk, 10,000 programmes, posters, road signs, invitations and a press and media profiling through venue, local newspaper and local and national radio.

The event has established a strong identity and secured popular local support. The 2013 Festival has demonstrated that opportunities now exist to expand the programme, widen the audience base and significantly realize the event’s publicity potential.

Roman River Music is seeking to develop an ongoing relationship with its sponsors securing sponsorship for 2-3 years in order to plan ahead and realise these opportunities.

Research at the Roman River Festival 2013 has confirmed that the aspects of the festival which people like the most are:

• Listeningtomusicinanintimateatmosphere • Theexuberanceoftheyoungandexcitingplayers • Relaxedattractivevenues • Creativeoriginalmusic • ExtremelyhighqualitymusicianswithouthavingtotraveltoLondon

The performers themselves have also been very enthusiastic about the Festival and were enthusiastic in their support of the outreach programme and of marketing events such as the highly successful ‘pop-up’ concert held on Colchester station for home-coming commuters.

Additionally, people have identified that they would like to see the following improved or added to the festival:

• Moremusic/entertainmentwithbroaderinterest • Moreforyoungerchildrenonweekends • Transporttovenues • Acentralhub/boxoffice/informationpointinColchester

Market Research

Contact us: 01206 729 356 info@romanrivermusic.org.uk www.romanrivermusic.org.uk

• Expandcurrentsuccessfulformattoincludefurthereventsattheweekendsfor families and young people, with events happening throughout the day, encouraging people to come to Colchester for the whole weekend

• LocateasuitablevenuethatcouldbeusedasahubfortheFestivalinthecentre of Colchester

• Developprogrammetoincludeblues,worldmusic,contemporarymusic, experimental music in conjunction with performance artists and open mic; explore poetry slam and silent cinema (accompanied by live music) opportunities with firstsite.

• LaunchtheFestivalatanexclusiveevent

• Developprogrammingpartnershipswithestablishedandrespectedorganisations suchasfirstsite,TheMinories,ColchesterCastle,LiquidNightclubandthe Mercury Theatre and build further support from the local business community

• Developaminibusservicetoferryaudiencesfromthehubtomoreremote venues (as is currently done by Tendring Open Studios) to increase audience accessibility

Developing the event

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In addition to general sponsorship we are offering sponsorship opportunities to include:

• Aspecificconcert• AColchesterhub• Theprintedprogramme• Thebrochure• Lowpriceticketsforyoungpeople(LiketheNT’sTravelex£10tickets)• Minibusserviceforthefestival• Avenue• Recitalinaschool• TheschoolsSetWorksConcert,side-by-sideorchesteraandotheropportunitiesin connection with the Outreach Programme

Sponsorship of the Roman River Festival would offer a host of outstanding benefits:

• Associationwithanalreadypopularandrapidlyemergingeventwithrealcreative potential in and around the affluent area of East Anglia• Profileraisingopportunitythroughpre-eventpublicity&PR,onsitebrandingand media coverage• Brandingtoappearonallprintedmaterialanddigitalmedia,includingwebpages, posters, promotional flyers and other branding in connection with the specific aspect of the festival sponsored• RomanRiverMusicwillseektomaximisepre-andpost-eventpublicity,issuing materialtoalllocalmediaoutlets,includingBBC• Prioritybooking,corporateandstaffentertainmentoptions,invitationstomeet musiciansatspecialevents/receptions

Welookforwardtodiscussingwithyouhowtheprogrammeanditspublicitycanbetailored to maximise the benefits to be derived from the sponsorship.

Sponsorship fee In common with all other festivals of this kind, without raising ticket prices to an unacceptable level, we have to raise significant sponsorship. To give you an idea, just the costofhiringabasicorchestrais£6,000.Wherepossiblewetrytokeepcostsdown,anddue to our fantastic team of volunteers our overheads, compared with similar festivals, are minimal. However, to continue to bring the enormous benefits of the Festival to North Essex, in addition to public funding and the continuing support of Friends and Benefactors,weneedyoursponsorship.Themoresponsorshipweraise,thebettertheFestival can be. If we raise enough sponsorship we can start to implement some of the developments referred to above. Tell us the amount you are able to sponsor and we will work with you to offer the best sponsorship package for your money.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Contact us: 01206 729 356 info@romanrivermusic.org.uk www.romanrivermusic.org.uk

Already an important event in the local calendar, we believe the potential now exists for the Roman River Music Festival to attain a regional and national profile adding to the image of Colchester as a cultural place to visit, live and work.

Weareofferingtherightsponsorstheopportunitytohelpusachievethatpotential.

The TrusteesJanuary 2014

Summary

Roman River MusicRegistered Charity No. 1126395