7 Association comment
therefore needed to ensure that we had an offering for young people , an offering that persuaded them to want to come to our events , engage with our content and interact with our community . But vitally , we needed to understand what young people needed and wanted from us , rather than what we thought they needed or wanted from us .
Shadow Board launches This June , we put together our first shadow board cohort , a group of 18 to 25-year-olds who are part of , or aspiring to be part of , the corporate film and events industries . We held our first shadow board meeting at the end of June and were met with a wave of enthusiasm , idea after idea , and a much-needed perspective .
Young people are engaging with our industry in a different way . Resources are available more freely online . Community can be created via a mobile phone . The historical functions of a trade association could be fulfilled elsewhere . We realised we needed to update our offering , to ensure that it was both appealing and valuable to the next generation of our industry . We also realised we needed to consider the way we communicate , shifting the focus of content to include interactive content for social media , film and video , podcasts and reels .
The shadow board has even persuaded us to get ourselves a TikTok account ( watch this space ). Trade associations like ours need to be embracing the new technology that young people use . If young people are on TikTok , we need to be on TikTok . We need to work hard to reach and engage young people , rather than waiting for them to come to us and then wondering why they don ’ t .
The shadow board will allow EVCOM to be influenced up , to dedicate a space to the ideas of young people and to make them happen . Not only this , but as shadow board members turn 26 , there will be the opportunity for them to apply to be a part of the senior board itself .
This is not to say that we will lose focus on our existing functions within EVCOM – supporting the industry , creating opportunities , championing creativity and recognising great work through our awards . All of this remains at the forefront of EVCOM ’ s everyday activities . But when we launch new programmes , we will do so with an eye to the future and the needs of the whole community .
Diversity promoted through the FOCUS Award In launching our FOCUS Award in 2020 , a new award for 18 – 25-year-old filmmakers not currently working in the industry , we decided to open applications only to black filmmakers and filmmakers of colour . The response was fantastic , and we received so much brilliant work from filmmakers with whom we have since built relationships . Equally , many of the shortlist have developed ongoing relationships with the mentors and supporters that worked with us on the award . In 2021 , we intend to launch a similar programme for young people entering the events industry , to spotlight and create opportunity for young and diverse talent .
And all of this doesn ’ t require huge capacity ( although there is never quite enough time nor money ). We are a small association , with only a handful of staff members , but over time we have learnt that collaboration and partnerships can make us so much stronger and our reach so
Above : Claire Fennelow
much wider . From connecting with schools and universities , to partnering with people with networks of young diverse people as well as the welcome support from the industry itself , it all helps to spread the load . Covid-19 has meant we ’ ve seen a strain on everyone ’ s financial resources , and so sponsorship and funding are harder to come by as people focus on their own recovery . To grow these initiatives across the industry we are going to need more time and money than we currently have . Our doors are always open to people with ideas , suggestions and partnership opportunities .
In the meantime , we are really looking forward to celebrating young and diverse talent through our specialised awards schemes and working closely with our shadow board . We are committed to listening to the young people who are giving us their time and creating a diverse and inclusive sector and association shaped by the voices and needs of young people .
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