A short, practical learning arc inside the festival

Timing: August 2026 (aligned with the Summer of Culture)
Format: Preparation session + festival practice + reflection
Location: Online + Hidden Beach Festival (in person)
Register interest: register@hiddenbea.ch
Full details released: March 2026

Overview

Hospitality & Artist Care is a short, practical learning arc that takes place inside the Hidden Beach Summer of Culture programme.

Participants take part in a simple three-part process:

1. A short preparation session

2. Hands-on experience during the festival

3. A closing reflection session

Together, this offers an introduction to the craft of welcoming, supporting and caring for artists, crews and contributors in a live cultural setting.

The focus is on learning through doing — working alongside the Hidden Beach team, experiencing the realities of festival life, and reflecting on how care, communication and coordination shape people’s experience.

What participants explore

• How artists are welcomed, oriented and supported

• How schedules, spaces and people are coordinated in practice

• How care is expressed through tone, attention and communication

• How challenges are handled calmly and responsibly

• How wellbeing and safety are supported in live environments

Participants gain a grounded understanding of hospitality as a form of cultural care, not just logistics.

Structure

1. Preparation session (early August)

A short online or in-person session introducing the principles of hospitality and artist care, sharing practical examples and setting the frame for the festival experience.

2. Festival practice (during August)

Participants join the Hidden Beach team on site, supporting artists, crews and coordinators in real time. This might include welcoming artists, supporting backstage spaces, assisting with schedules, and responding to changing needs.

Participants work in small groups, supported by experienced staff.

3. Reflection & integration (end of August)

A closing session where participants reflect together on what they experienced, what they learned, and how they might carry this knowledge into future projects.

Why this matters

Behind every meaningful cultural experience is a web of care — people noticing what’s needed, solving problems quietly, and creating environments where others can do their best work.

This learning arc makes that invisible work visible.

By embedding learning inside real practice, Hidden Beach supports participants to develop confidence, responsibility and care as cultural skills.

Who it’s for

• Emerging festival and event practitioners

• Artists curious about the organisational side of cultural work

• Volunteers and coordinators seeking deeper understanding

• Anyone interested in how care shapes culture

No prior experience is required.

Dates & registration

Delivered as part of the Hidden Beach Summer of Culture programme in August 2026.
Full details released March 2026.
Register interest: register@hiddenbea.ch