IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 2025 Partnership opportunities
Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram in the Tree Cathedral (IF:2021)
In May 2024, the Festival was awarded the prestigious EFFE Label by the European Festivals Association, recognising it as one of Europe’s most remarkable festivals.
“IF: Milton Keynes International Festival has grown to become an essential part of the city’s life since it first began in 2010, and I believe it will be central to our ambition to see Milton Keynes recognised in the future as a cultural centre of national and international importance.”
Cllr Pete Marland, Leader of Milton Keynes
Council
About The Festival
Celebrating its 8th edition in 2025, IF: Milton Keynes
International Festival is a biennial landmark cultural event, attracting both national and international acclaim.
Over 10 days, the Festival brings together world-class performers, artists and audiences for an exciting programme of live performances, installations, family events, theatre, dance, music, visual arts installations and many opportunities to take part.
The Festival takes place in surprising and unusual locations across Milton Keynes, including parks, public squares, commercial and retail spaces.
With a strong reputation for innovation and creativity, the Festival offers a unique opportunity for brands and businesses to engage with a diverse and vibrant audience, while supporting the local arts and culture scene.
ifmiltonkeynes.org
Watch the highlights film from IF: 2023
Produced
by
(Inset) Gratte Ciel: Places des Anges in Secklow Gate (IF:2023)
Compagnie Carabossse: Fire Gardens in Campbell Park (IF:2012)
The Audience at IF:2023
Visitor footfall: 234,000+
Audience demographics:
45% local to Milton Keynes and surrounding areas
40% regional (from across the South East, East and Midlands)
15% national and international visitors
Age Range: 25-55, predominantly professionals and families
Social Media Reach: 1,000,000+ unique users across major platforms
Email Subscribers: 25,000+
Website Traffic: 250,000+ page views during the festival period
Voalá: Station
in Willen Lake Park (IF:2016)
The 2025 Festival
The Spiegeltent in ‘Festival Central’, Campbell Park
The Spiegeltent is an exotic Belgian mirror tent – a travelling dance hall which is the perfect setting for live music, comedy, cabaret and contemporary circus in the Festival’s main hub‘Festival Central’ in Campbell Park.
Large-Scale Outdoor Events and Spectaculars
These large-scale, family-friendly events in public spaces events provide a ‘wow factor’, offering extraordinary and memorymaking experiences for large number of people (on average, between 3,000-10,000 for each event)
Community Engagement Projects
Bringing artists and people from all walks of life together, skills and experiences are shared to create projects that have particular resonance locally, for the City and for visitors.
Acoustic Stage in ‘Festival Central’, Campbell Park
Premieres – catch it here first!
The Festival commissions and presents world, UK and English premieres from some of the world’s leading artists and companies for people to see and enjoy for the very first time. These performances regularly generate national and international media reach.
The Stables Sessions put a spotlight on new sounds, emerging talent and unsigned bands from Milton Keynes and beyond for free, nightly performances.
Free and Pop-Up Events
Open access/free events are programmed throughout the Festival’s 10 days in Festival Central, across the city centre and beyond.
(Left) The Place Between by Rebecca Louise Law, with soundscapes by Jason Singh
in Middleton Hall, centre:mk (IF:2023)
(Right) Casus: Driftwood
in The Spiegeltent, Festival Central (IF:2018)
Why Partner With Us?
Brand Visibility:
Access to a large, engaged audience both in-person and through online platforms.
Community Engagement:
Align your brand with a dynamic music and arts charity, deeply embedded in the heart of Milton Keynes.
Positive Association:
Connect with high-quality artistic and cultural experiences that resonate with creativity, innovation and inclusivity.
Media Exposure:
Gain local and national media coverage through Festival marketing campaigns, including digital, print, radio, and TV.
“The amount of positive PR that the Festival generates for the City is incredible. We should be celebrating our city status as much as possible and the Festival has put us on the world stage. These world-class performances and events help wider business in Milton Keynes.”
Kevin Duffy, Centre Director, centre:mk
Business Supporters Past and Present
Partnership Opportunities
PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN IF: 2025
Whether it’s customer reach or staff rewards you are seeking, the Festival provides many partnership, sponsorship and hospitality opportunities for businesses.
The Festival team works collaboratively with Partners to ensure that packages and benefits are tailored to reflect sponsorship, marketing, CSR and ESG objectives.
Promotion
Brand Exposure: Significant reach through the Festival’s print, digital, and social media channels.
Audience Targeting: Potential to reach a specific demographic.
VIP Access: Exclusive opportunities for networking and brand association.
Media Coverage: Valuable PR exposure and potential for increased brand awareness.
Community Engagement: Opportunities for product sampling, giveaways, and community involvement.
“Niftylift are strong supporters of Milton Keynes and the Festival is very much a representation and reflection of the culture here in MK. It’s a great opportunity to showcase the city to both locals and people further afield.”
Niftylift Ltd
“The Festival was an ideal opportunity to extend the John Lewis/Waitrose name into the community.”
John Lewis Partnership
Relationship/networking/team building
VIP Reception: Create a dedicated space for invited guests, clients, or staff, offering a personalised and exclusive experience.
Priority Access: Provide special ticket offers and priority booking for clients, customers, and staff.
Staff Engagement: Offer staff opportunities to participate and volunteer, fostering a sense of community and ownership.
Unique Experiences: Create memorable team-building experiences, such as away-days or exclusive events.
Incentives: Offer competition prizes that can be used by staff or clients as rewards.
Behind-the-Scenes Access: Provide opportunities for guests to go “behind the scenes” and meet Festival artists, creating a unique and unforgettable experience.
Exclusive Hospitality: Offer passes that grant exclusive access to the Festival’s VIP hospitality area, providing a premium level of service and amenities.
Complimentary Tickets: Provide complimentary tickets to Festival events, allowing guests to fully enjoy the experience.
By combining two or more of these elements, you can create an experience that not only strengthens relationships with clients and staff but also fosters a positive and collaborative work environment.
De Machienerie: Carnivale in Festival Central (IF:2023)
Partnership Options
Each partnership can be tailored to suit your company’s budget and particular needs to ensure the right mix of branding, hospitality or ticket packages.
For example:
Headline Partner: Agreed, subject to contract
Green Spaces Partner: Agreed, subject to contract
Inclusion Partner: Agreed, subject to contract
Knowledge Partner: Under discussion
Volunteer Partner: Available £30,000 plus VAT
Family Focus Partner: Available £25,000 plus VAT
Community Engagement Partner: Available £10,000 plus VAT
Spiegeltent / Space Partner: Available £5,000 - 10,000 plus VAT
Event Partner: Available £3,000 - £10,000 plus VAT depending on event
Hospitality Packages: A range of VIP experiences including food, drink and tickets tailored for employee rewards, customer incentives, competitions etc.
Advertising Opportunities: Available from £1,000 plus VAT
If you can support the Festival with anything ‘in kind’ that is also helpful! Examples include support for accommodation, transport, catering, distribution or advertising spots. Every bit of support helps us reach more people.
Les Commandos Percu: Silence!
in Campbell Park (IF:2023)
www.ifmiltonkeynes.org
IF: Milton Keynes International Festival was founded by The Stables in 2010.
‘The Stables’ and ‘IF: Milton Keynes International Festival’ are operating names of Wavendon Allmusic Plan, a registered charity in England and Wales (261645), which is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (00979681).
The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, MK17 8LU
All photography by Shaun Armstrong, with the exception of Silence! (Carys Underwood).
