The winners of the Independent Festival Awards 2018 have been revealed at a packed-out event in Sheffield.
Run by the Association Of Independent Festivals (AIF), winners included Black Deer Festival (New Festival on the Block), Henge (Live Act of the Year), The Data Mine at Shambala (Unique Festival Arena) and Truck Festival (Smart Marketing Campaign).
Director of Sheffield’s Tramlines Festival Sarah Nulty, who died earlier this year aged 36, was posthumously honoured with the Outstanding Contribution award. Donations were collected on the evening for Weston Park Cancer Charity and Cavendish Cancer Care, two charities that provided care and support for Nulty during her illness.
AIF CEO Paul Reed said: “The Independent Festival Awards was an outstanding celebration and an emotional evening. Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees, who help reaffirm that the independent festival sector is in an incredibly strong place.
“I’m especially grateful to the Tramlines team and the family of Sarah Nulty for working with us to honour her incredible achievements and convey the admiration for Sarah that runs throughout the festival community.”
The Act Of Independence award, meanwhile, was handed to Southbank Centre’s Meltdown Festival for replacing Frightened Rabbit’s set at the event with a panel on mental health awareness and the music industry, following the death of singer Scott Hutchison earlier this year.
Hosted by Glastonbury Festival’s Ben Challis, the awards took place at 92 Burton Road on Tuesday evening (November 6) following the first day of AIF’s annual Festival Congress. Nominations were put forward to AIF’s 65 member festivals and then determined by a Festival Congress steering group vote.
The full list of Independent Festival Awards Winners 2018 is as follows:
Outstanding Contribution
Sarah Nulty (Tramlines)
Act of Independence
Southbank Centre's Meltdown Festival
New Festival on the Block
Black Deer Festival
Unique Festival Arena
The Data Mine at Shambala
Live Act of the Year
Henge
Festival Caterer of the Year
The Peckish Peacock
Smart Marketing Campaign
Truck Festival
