Boomtown Fair has just unveiled their brand new flagship mission for the year, the all
encompassing Respect Campaign. Evolving from the success of the Harm Reduction campaign
that hit the headlines last year after bringing in drug safety testing organisation, The Loop and
other extensive safety measures, the campaign covers all aspects of harm reduction and consists of three pillars: Respect Yourself, Respect Each Other, Respect Your City.
Acknowledging that respect is very much a two way street, Boomtown has invested a huge
amount to further benefit their audiences’ experience. This is not just in terms of the jaw
dropping production levels, the mind boggling amount of musicians from every genre under the
sun and the theatrical elements of the festival, but also in the safety measures, infrastructure
and facilities needed to help keep people safe from harm and to help ensure they have only the
very best time whilst at the festival.
Respect Yourself: The variety of harm reduction, education and awareness measures under the banner Respect
Yourself are utilizing a similar method to last year’s drug awareness campaign (see ‘Boomtown
on Drugs’ documentary here). Boomtown will again be providing; pre-event education and
awareness, onsite drug safety testing provided by The Loop, roaming campsite welfare
teams, 24 hour campsite hubs, fully equipped 24 hour onsite medical facilities, welfare
and counselling services, along with an onsite police station and SIA security staff. There
will also be general welfare messaging and provisions to ensure those in attendance can look
after themselves, keep hydrated and are well rested..
Respect Each Other: Celebrating and representing the differences and variety within society, along with encouraging
people to think about how their actions affect those around them are central to the Respect
Each Other element of the campaign. Policies implemented to encourage and support these
values include; a zero tolerance policy to harassment of any kind, continued work with Safe
Gigs For Women, as well as raising awareness of what constitutes harassment alongside the AIF
Safer Spaces campaign. Increasing the awareness of accessibility support by working with
Attitude is Everything and Deafzone to provide a host of dedicated facilities for people with
accessible or medical requirements. There will also be dedicated LGBTQ+ spaces of
celebration and inclusivity, and behind the scenes work into actively discouraging and raising
awareness of cultural appropriation.
Respect Your City: Respect Your City focuses on reducing the impact the festival has on the environment, as well
as instilling social awareness of the long lasting impact an individual can have. As with the other
two parts of the Respect Campaign, Boomtown is hoping to encourage a two way partnership
with their public by providing the resources to help those in attendance look after the land the
festival takes place on, protect all the work that goes into creating it and the planet in general..
Such resources, pledges and facilities include; joining the AIF ‘Drastic on Plastic’; working
with RAW Foundation to help raise awareness of the issued caused by plastics through reusable
cups and increased water points; participating in A Greener Festival Award; cup deposit
schemes; two bin recycling systems; working with Every Can Helps to recycle drinks cans,
minimising cigarette litter with BUTTrFLY. This year the festival continues its partnership with
Energy Revolution, to reduce carbon footprint of the festival and a lot of other schemes, systems
and policies.
“One of the main things Boomtown have learnt over the past 10 chapters is just how far
consideration and respect for one another can go. They really want to encourage a culture of respect
by providing as many resources for our public as possible, in the hope this encourages everyone
within the festival to pass this respect on, to themselves, to each other, to the festival, but also to
the outside wider world in general.
Boomtown lay their foundations on what we want the festival to stand for and represent, and where
we see our future direction to be focused fully upon.” – Boomtown Organisers
There are still a limited number of tickets available . For everything you need to know
about Boomtown before you set foot in the city check out the Essential Guide
Notion Magazine - Boomtown isn’t just tents and stages clumsily plopped down in the countryside,
but a spectacular sensory experience that pays homage to all art forms. It’s a sprawling pop-up
metropolis comprised of cleverly repurposed shipping containers, boats, caravans… you name it
and they’ve done something seriously cool with it.
