Getting to Launch

—Exposure and Inspiration—

1. Find out about concept, inspired to try a new festival.

—Exploratory Phase—

2. Contact SFA staff for 1 – 3 initial conversations. Contact 1 – 3 SFA members for initial conversations (one each). Examine publicly available SFA resources. 3. Initial considerations of collaborators, institutional backing, finances, and scope. 4. Decision to launch a science festival initiative, based upon existing commitment of institutional backing and core collaborator support.

—Emerging Festival—

5. Apply for SFA membership.

• Gain access to all SFA resources, matched to mentor and cohort/buddies.

6. Foundational planning stage:

• Determine name, scope, timeline, financials, organizational structure and staffing, ongoing conversations with growing list of collaborators, first funding commitments secured.
• Regular check-ins with SFA mentor/cohort.
• Travel to see existing SFA festival in action.
• Possibly attend SFA meetings or conference.
• SFA referrals to/from potential partner organizations commence.

7. Formative planning stage:

• Initial branding, general structure of festival program determined, funding commitments at one-third of goal, subcontractors and major venues identified/secured, call for entries issued to professional community.
• Regular check-ins with SFA mentor/cohort.

—Full Festival—

8. Public launch announcing dates of first festival celebration. Work your tail off until it’s a smashing success.