This year we are piloting our Event Experience strand offering 16-25 year-olds with an interest in cultural careers, the chance to support the festival team more closely with defined production roles.
As this is a targeted and structured opportunity, successful applicants must demonstrate:
- A genuine interest in their chosen area
- Commitment to pre-festival training and preparation
- Availability during agreed festival dates
- Reliability and professional conduct
Event Experience is open to:
- 16-25 year-olds
- those who have specific interests and/or want to gain more hands-on experience
- those that will benefit directly form the experience being offered
- applicants from the east of England however we will give priority to local applicants
- those who are available for the weekend and committed to undertaking prior training and volunteer opportunities to get festival ready.
Expectation and Commitment
If you are successful in securing a placement, you will be asked to sign a Commitment & Expectations Agreement. This document will set out the expectations over the course of the placement and what you can expect of the team supporting you.
From the end of April onwards you will be expected to attend pre-festival training, shadowing and volunteering that is organised for you to prepare you to be festival ready.
Individual role outlines and responsibilities will be confirmed and agreed; there is more detail below within each role.
You are expected to contribute to post-festival evaluation and reflection process to support subsequent years.
Applications close on 7 May 2026
Event Experience Roles
1. Production
This strand is designed for young people interested in a career in event production or festival management. Participants will be supported by a member of the First Light Production Team and provided with a clear role brief and expectations.
Participants will gain experience in:
- Artist liaison
- Site management support
- Meet & greet coordination
- Production office support
Pre-Festival Commitment:
- Attendance at training and/or volunteer sessions
- Potential support at Battery of Ideas or East Point Pavilion events
Festival Commitment:
- Minimum of one full 8-hour shift
- Attendance at agreed pre-festival preparation sessions
2. Backstage (Live Music & Technical)
This strand is aimed at those interested in live music production, stage management, lighting, and sound engineering. This strand offers rare and valuable exposure to professional live music production environments. Participants will be supported by a lead staff member from Synergy and provided with a structured briefing and supervision throughout
Participants will gain experience in:
- Shadow professional stage teams
- Support stagehands
- Observe lighting and sound engineers
- Experience behind-the-scenes festival operations
Pre-Festival Commitment:
- Volunteer opportunities with Brighten the Corners (Ipswich)
- Site visit to production supplier HQ
- Attendance at agreed training sessions
Festival Commitment:
- Minimum of one full 8-hour shift
- Active backstage shadowing and support
- Adherence to Health & Safety
3. Marketing & Communications
This strand is aimed at aspiring photographers, videographers, and digital content creators. Participants will receive a structured brief and work under supervision from the festival team. You will need to have access to your own equipment, either personally or through loans from college etc.
Participants will gain experience in:
- Capturing festival atmosphere and audience engagement
- Working from a designated shot list
- Producing content suitable for social media and promotional use
Pre-Festival Commitment:
- Support and capture content at two lead-up events
(Battery of Ideas or East Point Pavilion)
Festival Commitment:
- Approx. 5-hour on-site shift (Saturday or Sunday)
- Option to apply for both days
4. Retail & Public Engagement
This strand supports young people looking to develop customer service, communication, and front-of-house skills. Participants will be supervised by a staff member and assigned to a designated box office station.
Participants will gain experience in:
- Working on festival box office stations
- Supporting customer enquiries
- Ticketing procedures and public engagement
Pre-Festival Commitment:
- Volunteer experience at pre-festival events
Festival Commitment:
- One full festival day EITHER Saturday: 12pm–8pm / Sunday: 10am–4pm
How to Apply
These are very limited roles; there are around 4 positions per role available. We are looking for those that are going to bring a lot to the festival but also gain a worthwhile experience from the festival team.
- Apply for your position via the form below.
- Applications will be reviewed by a panel of industry experts.
- A shortlist of applicants will be invited to interview in May 2026.
- Successful applicants offered placement.