New Director Announced

Today we announce that after recruiting and interviews, the Board of Trustees have appointed Dodie Finamore as Festival Director

 

“I am so excited to continue my work with SouthWestFest, our partners and communities. Heading into my fourth year with the festival, the time feels right to step up into this new role. After two years of finding new ways of working to steer us through these difficult times I am looking forward to returning to the festival’s traditional model whilst bringing fresh ideas and energy.

I am indebted to Joanna Goodey the previous Director, for all her support and guidance over the last few years, I shall miss working with her and wish her well.

We will be recruiting for my replacement so keep your eyes peeled!”

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Work with Us

SouthWestFest is looking for a new Festival Director:

Since 2004, SouthWestFest has brought the SW1 community together in the first weeks of July to celebrate the cultural and community work taking place in this unique part of the capital.  Now the Board of Trustees is seeking an experienced freelance Festival Director to lead this dynamic annual community festival, sustain past success and take it into a new phase of development.

The successful candidate will work with the Board and partner organisations to link local people to cultural and community opportunities through fun activities and engaging events for all ages.

Role – Freelance Festival Director

Contract value – £10,400

Contract period – January 2022-December 2022, renewable annually

Time commitment – One day per week on average, but weighted towards the festival events

and immediate preparation for them in early summer

Place of work – Primarily home-based/flexible with attendance at meetings in Westminster

needed on a regular basis

Reporting to – Chair and Board of Trustees

Supervising – Festival Producer and freelance staff, as required

Enhanced DBS check required

For an application pack and any queries please contact Chair of Trustees Dr Catherine Drake Wilkes on chair@southwestfest.org.uk

We plan to hold interviews on 23rd November.

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Jo Goodey steps down as Festival Director

Dear Friends of the Festival,

After 6 fantastic and fun-filled years at the helm of SouthWestFest it is time for me to move on from my role of Festival Director. This decision was not made easily, as I have absolutely loved my time working for SouthWestFest, getting to know the incredible communities, groups, organisations and people who make south Westminster such a vibrant place to live and work.

I feel honoured and privileged to have been able to work with you all to create amazing and inspiring cultural and community events and projects, which showcase and celebrate the area. From determinedly dancing and singing in the rain at the Pimlico Proms, to pop up planetariums, outdoor theatre shows, incredible community art installations, our parades and performances in the streets of Westminster, and my absolute favourite- our Festival Day in St. Georges square! I have so many happy memories to take with me.

I’m also pleased to have been able to work with our amazing trustees, our fantastic producer Dodie, our freelance staff and volunteers, to see the Festival and charity through the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic. We launched a Digital festival in 2020, and a reimagined hybrid festival for 2021, out of which our Art Trail and other exciting new initiatives were born and now is an opportune time for the festival to continue to develop and grow under new leadership. 

Although I am departing as Festival Director, I promise this is not a goodbye, just a farewell for now as I will definitely be popping back in the future as an audience member, to enjoy all the fantastic future events the festival has to offer!

See you all soon,

Jo Goodey

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