Site changes for 27

[CaledonianGonzo]

This seems to be the key bit that Skip's post contradicts

 

"We’ve been told separately by Glastonbury’s management that there isn’t an interest in replacing us or desire to have a craft area at the festival anymore, which we felt it only right to share. "

[Crazyfool01]

8 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

This seems to be the key bit that Skip's post contradicts

 

"We’ve been told separately by Glastonbury’s management that there isn’t an interest in replacing us or desire to have a craft area at the festival anymore, which we felt it only right to share. "

I guess lots of different talks and whispers from various people involved in the area going around ... hopefully an area that remains , although Its always an area I intend to use as a creative sadly I havent over the years its lovely to wander through and its not quite so manic as other areas of the festival and more than had its place 

[Skip997]

That’s a very confusing post and based on what I know it only partially makes sense to me. As already stated I have recently been party to conversations and correspondence regarding the future of Glastonbury festival Green Crafts. To the best of my knowledge the current situation is that the, now previous, coordinators of this area have effectively been sacked and replacements are being interviewed. I suspect the above was written by them.

 

 I have no knowledge of the existence of an overall organisation called “Green Crafts”. To the best of my knowledge events such as The Green Gathering and Shambala will include a Green Crafts area this year and I know that they are not organised by any overall organisation. I know the organiser of the Green Gathering craft field personally.

 

A few years back my immediate boss at Glastonbury had a conversation with Michael in which he suggested that the Green Fields would be the first victim in changes to the festival. Michael’s response was “not while I’m still alive”. The Green Fields are still seen as an integral part of the festival by several of those at the top.

 

 Again I suspect this is a scare story put out by the previous coordinators and I would take it with several “pinches of salt”

[Skip997]

15 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

This seems to be the key bit that Skip's post contradicts

 

"We’ve been told separately by Glastonbury’s management that there isn’t an interest in replacing us or desire to have a craft area at the festival anymore, which we felt it only right to share. "

I’ve been told personally by the very long standing managers of the Green Fields that they are looking for new Craft Field coordinators and was asked to make suggestions 

[Crazyfool01]

Field will still be there but under new management I think skip is right ( and person who forwarded it confirms ) despite the letter contents 

 

edit added bit in brackets 

Edited April 9 by Crazyfool01

[stuie]

10 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

I have no knowledge of the existence of an overall organisation called “Green Crafts”. To the best of my knowledge events such as The Green Gathering and Shambala will include a Green Crafts area this year and I know that they are not organised by any overall organisation. I know the organiser of the Green Gathering craft field personally.

 

https://greencraftsvillage.com/

 

Greencrafts were the first to bring large-scale hands-on craft areas to big music festivals in both the UK and Ireland; founding the first ever Greencrafts area at Glastonbury in 1993. Greencrafts coined the name and term ‘Greencrafts’ and later ‘Greencrafts Village’, and have led the way on how craft can find a home within the festival context for the last 32 years. They continue to build on this legacy and pave the way.

 

Greencrafts’ Directors were founding members of the Big Green Gathering Festival; and founded the craft field there in 1994, running the area for 14 years from 1994-2008.

 

The Greencrafts Village Facebook Page

 

[Skip997]

2 minutes ago, stuie said:

 

https://greencraftsvillage.com/

 

Greencrafts were the first to bring large-scale hands-on craft areas to big music festivals in both the UK and Ireland; founding the first ever Greencrafts area at Glastonbury in 1993. Greencrafts coined the name and term ‘Greencrafts’ and later ‘Greencrafts Village’, and have led the way on how craft can find a home within the festival context for the last 32 years. They continue to build on this legacy and pave the way.

 

Greencrafts’ Directors were founding members of the Big Green Gathering Festival; and founded the craft field there in 1994, running the area for 14 years from 1994-2008.

 

The Greencrafts Village Facebook Page

 

So they are/were involved in a very small number of events. There rant suggests this is the end of Green Crafts at festivals, this is not the case.

 

 I fully expect Green Crafts to be at Glastonbury in 2027, just with new management 

[kalifire]

I wonder why they’re being replaced. Any ideas?

[Skip997]

2 minutes ago, kalifire said:

I wonder why they’re being replaced. Any ideas?

Lots of politics and other stuff. Not comfortable saying more 

[kalifire]

1 minute ago, Skip997 said:

Lots of politics and other stuff. Not comfortable saying more 

Fair enough. Appreciate the insight 👍

[stuie]

2 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

Lots of politics and other stuff. Not comfortable saying more 

 

I would have thought you'd be on the other side of the fence with this to be honest.  It seems like another Melvin/Emily effect to me - something that you're usually quite vocal about.

 

Greencrafts were axed from Wilderness last year after being there since it's founding days, not replaced.  Sounds a bit suspicious! 

[Skip997]

10 minutes ago, stuie said:

 

I would have thought you'd be on the other side of the fence with this to be honest.  It seems like another Melvin/Emily effect to me - something that you're usually quite vocal about.

 

Greencrafts were axed from Wilderness last year after being there since it's founding days, not replaced.  Sounds a bit suspicious! 

This is not a Melvin/Emily thing

[gfa]

Thanks for all this info Skip

[balti-pie]

Im not against change, and while i really like the green fields and the green craft bit specifically, when you've been to more than a couple of festivals it is quite stark how little it changes from year to year. Pretty much every area in the glastonbury site has either been updated, changed or refitted in the last decade-ish, and its just swinging round to this area now. I'm sure there's people who feel their toes are being trodden on but things have to evolve, and not just be recreated to within a couple of inches every summer season - atrophy is death innit 

[dotdash79]

It’s some premium festival space, hope it doesn’t end up as mega expensive glamping site. 

[kalifire]

Apologies if this seems controversial, but it’s felt to me like wasted festival space in recent years. There comes a point where there’s a disconnect between what stalwarts sense is

at the heart of the festival and what’s born out by foot traffic on the ground. I’ve visited the crafts field plenty of times but only to pass through it - not to partake - and it’s been fairly empty each time. 
 

For a festival where every square inch of land matters, it’s always felt like a waste of space to me. I’m not suggesting there’s an either/or between traditional use of field space and corporate sponsorship or glamping, but land that’s being populated and utilised is surely better than land for the sake of tradition. 

[gfa]

It sounds like its not going / maybe it is, but new life could help it.

 

Team Love taking over silver hayes did a world of good for instance.

[Crazyfool01]

12 minutes ago, kalifire said:

Apologies if this seems controversial, but it’s felt to me like wasted festival space in recent years. There comes a point where there’s a disconnect between what stalwarts sense is

at the heart of the festival and what’s born out by foot traffic on the ground. I’ve visited the crafts field plenty of times but only to pass through it - not to partake - and it’s been fairly empty each time. 
 

For a festival where every square inch of land matters, it’s always felt like a waste of space to me. I’m not suggesting there’s an either/or between traditional use of field space and corporate sponsorship or glamping, but land that’s being populated and utilised is surelybetter than land for the sake of tradition. 

does every inch of the festival site need to be heaving ? the workshops I think are always busy , you remove creative areas such as this it discourages creativity as a whole with people unable to have space to do certain things that also has other impacts . 

[Crazyfool01]

10 minutes ago, gfa said:

It sounds like its not going / maybe it is, but new life could help it.

 

Team Love taking over silver hayes did a world of good for instance.

agree a refresh and some new ideas might be a good thing also 

[kalifire]

1 minute ago, Crazyfool01 said:

does every inch of the festival site need to be heaving ? the workshops I think are always busy , you remove creative areas such as this it discourages creativity as a whole with people unable to have space to do certain things that also has other impacts . 

No, of course not every area needs to be heaving. Personally, I spend a decent amount of time each Glasto chilling out in those upper fields because relentless busyness stresses me out. But the festival has to consider return on investment per field.

[Crazyfool01]

1 minute ago, kalifire said:

No, of course not every area needs to be heaving. Personally, I spend a decent amount of time each Glasto chilling out in those upper fields because relentless busyness stresses me out. But the festival has to consider return on investment per field.

I just think there doesnt need to be the relentless push for what is deemed value for money the festival does pretty well with its pretty wide offering and provides something for everyone , so that in its own way is a return on investment ... 

[incident]

1 hour ago, kalifire said:

But the festival has to consider return on investment per field.

 

No.

 

In fact, one of the things that makes Glastonbury great is that it doesn't always do that and sometimes does things just because they want to.

[Skip997]

If we begin to, hypothetically, look at areas on a return on investment and judge this by footfall, then we would also have to consider: the Healing Field, Permaculture and even Acoustic Stage (often relatively quiet so I’m told). All these areas are integral to the ethos of the festival. Sure this may happen one day, but not as I’ve been told “as long as I’m still alive” (ME). 

[Pinhead]

28 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

If we begin to, hypothetically, look at areas on a return on investment and judge this by footfall, then we would also have to consider: the Healing Field, Permaculture and even Acoustic Stage (often relatively quiet so I’m told). All these areas are integral to the ethos of the festival. Sure this may happen one day, but not as I’ve been told “as long as I’m still alive” (ME). 

Exactly - there is talk on here that sounds like a bunch of corporate shills who consider the price of everything over it's value. Glasto have more than enough estate to deliver their groundbreaking stuff over their 'traditional'. But hey, let's keep an eye on what happens politically over what actually transpires.

[kalifire]

I phrased my last post poorly. I wasn’t suggesting that the festival eeks out every last penny from every last bit of land on the basis of profit. Of course the fields mentioned are historically a core part of the heart of the event. But they also need to resonate with the attendees or they just exist because they always have, which might be lovely in terms of tradition but isn’t necessarily the best use of land.