Impact Report
10 years of spreading ‘The Good Stuff’
ABOUT GREEN MAN
Green Man is one of the most beloved festivals in the World (NME).
One of three large UK independents left, it is recognised for :
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Quality curation and audience experience
5* Reviews from the Guardian, Independent, Telegraph & NME. BBC 6 Music Best UK Festival & NME Best Festival in the World nominee.
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Talent Launcher
Fontaine DC, Self Esteem, Alt J, Black Country New Road to name but a few!
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Diversity and Inclusion
Awarded Gold Charter by charity ‘Attitude is Everything’, for improving access to music for those with extra learning needs and disabilities.
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Gender Equality
Recognised by Women in Music and voted the most LGBTQ+-friendly festival in the UK by Cosmopolitan.
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Environmental best practices
Founding member of Vision 2025 and partnership with A Greener Future.
Green Man Trust is Green Man’s charitable arm. In the last 10 years, we’ve supported over 12,000 people and raised nearly £2,000,000 for good causes. Join us to help make even more ‘Good Stuff’ happen.
A word from our Ambassador and Chair…
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Over the 10 years since founding the Green Man Trust, I’ve witnessed firsthand how the power of kindness and creativity can help tackle some of the biggest challenges we face in today’s society - from creating confidence in communities who feel overlooked, helping young people gain vital skills, supporting future generations, investing in artists in the early stages of their careers.
We have touched the lives of over 12,000 people and raised over £1,800,000 which is incredible and I am so proud of the many people who have helped make this happen. Together we have built a strong organisation and lasting legacy.
I am very proud of what we have achieved together and excited about the future. We are working towards securing a permanent home for the Trust from where we will be able to expand our training and science programmes and offer enhanced opportunities for artist development.
The widening wealth and age gap, and climate crisis are issues which will affect us all, particularly future generations. We have made a difference, but so much more is needed. You have been with us every step of the way and I hope you will continue to help us make the ‘good stuff happen’.
Diolch Fi x
Fiona Stewart, Founder Green Man Trust & Managing Director Green Man
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As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Green Man Trust, I, as a proud Welshman, remain passionately committed to this organisation as its Ambassador. The Trust highlights what an incredible country Wales is to the world. It develops the arts, promotes Welsh language, supports Welsh communities, and the innovations that make our country great.
In these sometimes confusing and chaotic times, Green Man’s role as an oasis of kindness and inclusivity has an even greater impact. Between 2006 and 2013, £280,000 was donated to community projects including the refurbishment of Cwmdu Village Hall, keeping local primary schools open; supporting sports and environmental organisations and vulnerable people in Powys. By 2014, projects had a life of their own and the Trust was founded.
Of course, we can’t talk about Green Man or the Trust without talking about Fiona Stewart or Fi as her friends call her. She cares about people, a fairer society and bringing people together to create positive experiences. Her enthusiasm for ‘making good stuff happen,’ inspired me and many others to get involved and the momentum has grown and grown…
Since the Green Man Trust started, countless visual, performing and music artists have used the unique opportunities Green Man offers to showcase work with respected influencers, industry professionals and billions of followers.
The Trust is committed to Welsh communities and has donated over £211,000+ to 172 local projects.
Hundreds of young people have benefited from training programmes the Trust runs at the festival. The experience can be life-changing, develops skills and confidence and is attractive to future employers.
We want to thank everyone including our Trustees Jo Owen, Natasha Hale, Ian Fielder, Dan Langford OBE and of course Jo Rodrigues who manages the Trust and brings it all together, Green Man crew who train so many, and the Green Man audience who are the best to showcase, and help us create a safe festival where even the most vulnerable feel welcomed, supported and have a place to thrive.
Our future generations deserve a bright future and the Green Man Trust is doing its bit - we would love it if you could join us too…to make the good stuff happen…
Diolch,
Iwan Rheon x
OUR AIMS
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OUR AIMS *
ARTS DEVELOPMENT
Music, Performing Arts & Visual Arts
REAL-WORLD TRAINING
For young people & adults at risk
POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE
In Welsh communities & beyond
SCIENCE ENGAGEMENT
Tackling the climate crisis & health awareness
‘The values of Green Man seep through everything they do. When you are at a Green Man event you know what they stand for. They engage and support the local community while remaining part of a global community of artists and audiences. They are putting Wales on the map, not just for having a unique, successful festival in beautiful surroundings, but for modelling how to be a responsible and responsive organisation. The Green Man Trust sits at the heart of this ethos and the impact it has achieved over these 10 years is nothing short of remarkable.’
Colin Riordan, Former President and Vice-Chancellor, Cardiff University
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Since 2014…
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£1,800,000 +
Raised for our projects and good causes
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12,000 +
People supported
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5,000 +
Artists
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2,000 +
Training placements
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200 +
New science engagement projects
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170 +
Community organisations
HOW WE RAISE FUNDS…
HOW WE SPEND FUNDS…
OUR PROJECTS
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OUR PROJECTS *
ARTS DEVELOPMENT MUSIC
Green Man is recognised internationally as a go-to event for discovering new talent. Our music development programme uses the festival as a platform, and the extensive music influence of the attendees and brand to support emerging acts on their way to becoming the headliners of tomorrow.
‘Green Man Rising has accelerated our journey as a band, by playing to a massive audience alongside other artists who we greatly look up to. (…) It has given us the confidence to progress the band towards being a serious future career and keep making music which excites us.’
Neil Thomson, The Orchestra (For Now)
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The chance to open Green Man’s iconic 12,000-capacity Mountain Stage, alongside a lineup of world-renowned artists
A slot on the Rising Stage to an audience of 2,000 - the biggest performance of their careers
A professionally recorded session
Mentoring from top industry professionals
Access a network of key influencers that have a history of launching artists to global success
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190+ music creators take part each year
Supporting the UK-wide grassroots music scene - 27% Wales, 24% South West, 19% South East, 17% the Midlands, 11% the North and 2% from the rest of UK.
92% of music creators between the ages of 18-24
50/50 gender split
3,000+ acts apply to the programme every year
It is free to enter and open to any genre
Judged by top music professionals: CAA, William Morris, Bella Union, Domino Records, Moshi Moshi, Communion, Glastonbury, NME, Mojo, Times and the Guardian and many more.
ARTS DEVELOPMENT PERFORMING ARTS
Green Man Trust’s Performing Arts development programme is all about supporting the Welsh outdoor arts sector and uses Green Man’s international reach as a springboard for artists to develop new audiences and try out new ideas, supported by the extensive technical and production expertise of the festival team. It is now one of the key dates in the national Summer touring calendar. With an international strategy taking shape, we are connecting Welsh artists with new markets for touring and presenting international work never seen in Wales before.
‘We feel very grateful to be able to take part in the [Green Man Trust’s] programme and bring an international cohort with us (...) as an outdoor arts offering of a programme of work, its the best that Wales has right now. Congratulations all.’
George Harris, Tin Shed Theatre Co.
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Specialist technical support, infrastructure, networks
Mentoring and peer-learning opportunities
Budget, location and significant audience reach
An international exchange network
An artist-led panel discussion
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1,619 early-career creatives supported
270+ live performances
91% emerging Welsh artists
9% international artists
68% female-led
32% disable-led
National & International networks - Articulture, Outdoor Arts UK, Four Nations, ISACS, Surge, +Culture, FiraTàrrega, Catalan Arts, Circostrada among others
ARTS DEVELOPMENT VISUAL ARTS
Our Visual Arts programme began in 2016 to carve out a new space for art in the music festival scene. We invite artists and audiences to think outside the white cube. It is the only programme in the UK festival scene with an approach that is truly nurturing to artists, offering a combined residency and commissioning model over 12 months. Early-career visual artists have the support of Green Man’s experienced team to create large-scale artwork for the outdoors for the first time, present it to a live audience of thousands and tap into national media which attend the festival each year.
‘The Green Man Trust’s Visual Arts Programme gives artists the opportunity to learn what it is like to develop large-scale work in an outdoor setting that will be seen and interacted with by thousands of people. There aren’t many other opportunities that offer this .’
Antonio Roberts, Visual Artist
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110+ early-career artists supported
31 commissions (including 2 collectives)
74 artist residencies
3 touring works with FACT, Forma, QUAD, g39 and Southwark Park Galleries
65% female artists
21% disabled and/or neurodivergent artists
223,200+ live audiences since 2016
Backed by the best in the business - Karen Mackinnon, Glynn Vivian Gallery; Judith Carlton, SPG; Ben Borthwick, curator; Shonagh Manson, GLA; Peter Bonnell, QUAD; Helen Starr, founder of Mechatronic Library; Rachel Cunningham-Clarke, Forma and Maitreyi Maheshwari, FACT among others.
We work in partnership with Green Man and Welsh education providers to offer real-world training. Our programmes build skills in a wide range of professional areas while also developing participants' interpersonal skills. We run placements in partnership with Cardiff University, University of South Wales and Merthyr College. The programmes are once-in-a-lifetime intensive learning experiences that stand out in young people’s CVs and allow them to network and work alongside industry professionals at the top of their game.
‘An unforgettable journey! It's an experience that's absolutely worth savouring, with advice and training that I look to take forward into my professional development (…) Working with one of (if not) the best going crews in the UK Festival scene is an invaluable time well spent. I highly recommend this programme.’
Carys Murphy-Jones, Media Training placement 2024
TRAINING
YOUNG PEOPLE
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218 placements since 2018
41% employed in the creative industries
Placements in Marketing, Fundraising, Operations, Logistics, Media Production, Artist Liaison, Waste & Recycling Management among others
Working in partnership with Oasis Cardiff and Green Man, we offer a training project that supports the integration of refugees and asylum seekers in Wales. It’s all about giving them a Warm Welsh Welcome while they start their new lives in a new country. 30 participants take part every year and they develop new skills in:
Health & safety, fire evacuation procedures, crowd management and customer services
Communication, teamwork, leadership and interpersonal skills
While being part of a quintessentially British summer tradition, the project boosts participants’ confidence and a sense of purpose and belonging to their new community. It helps to challenge negative stereotypes and promote understanding of the lived experiences of asylum seekers and refugees.
‘It's such an excellent experience for me for so many reasons, after all of the things I have experienced, this is something new and normal.’
Rahman, participant 2022
TRAINING
REFUGEES & ASYLUM SEEKERS
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180 training placements since 2018
48 nationalities
2 further employed in the festival team
Positive Social Change in Welsh Communities
Community support is in the DNA of Green Man and for over 22 years the festival has donated to local community groups and schools worth thousands of pounds. Green Man Trust has worked in partnership with the festival for the past 10 years to take this support even further. Together we create positive change in the local communities whether that’s fundraising for those affected by natural disasters, donating to Food Banks, supporting sports and hobbyist clubs, community gatherings which address loneliness and encourage inclusivity, repairing local infrastructure of buildings which support community engagement, supporting local schools and sourcing equipment for people with disabilities.
‘We are so grateful to the Green Man Trust for the support they are giving our community in such tangible ways, as it would have taken us years to raise the funds to afford projects like these that have a true impact and lasting legacy on our children and their families.’
Claire Pugh, Headteacher PCIW School Brecon
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£58,825+ donated through the Community Grants Fund in Powys since 2023
£10,500+ raised for Crickhowell High School
£3,000 to support Ukraine aid
£13,000 to food banks in 2022
£16,000 donated to households affected by Storm Denis in 2020
£50,000 raised for Llangattock Primary School
£60,000+ raised at the Green Man Trust Cafe for local projects
£280,000+ donated by Green Man festival in free pitches, tickets and services to support local fundraising initiatives, including the refurbishment of Cwmdu Village Hall.
Science, Climate Crisis & Health Engagement
The Green Man Trust has been engaging 400,000+ people from all walks of life with science in Green Man festival’s Einstein’s Garden. A space where science gatecrashes arts, comedy, circus, music, and theatre, it was the first science engagement area at a music festival in the UK. The programme welcomes everything from mushroom-growing workshops to panel discussions about death, but the enduring underpinning theme of the Garden is the natural world and our relationship with it.
‘By using Green Man’s extensive impact as a disruptive brand and their talent for innovation, they have pioneered new ways to engage communities with science and health through their science experience Einstein’s Garden.’
Farrah Nazir, Insights & Learning, EDI at The Wellcome Trust
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400,000+ people engaged with science since 2008
50+ workshops & performances for different age groups and the whole family each year
Powered by solar energy and hydrogen fuel cell
Partners have included - Wellcome Trust, Research Council UK, Cancer Research, Tenovus Cancer Care, The Institute of Physics, The Institute of Engineering and Technology, Met Office, Oxford, Cambridge, Cardiff and Swansea Universities, UCL, Kings and Imperial Colleges among others
THE NEXT 10 YEARS
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THE NEXT 10 YEARS *
Our first decade has built a lasting legacy which has supported 12,000+ people. We have learnt a lot and the next 10 years will see us focus even more on Future Generations and the climate emergency…
A PERMANENT HOME
To build on the success of the last 10 years, the Green Man Trust aims to secure a permanent home in Wales from where we can expand our charitable initiatives, increase training opportunities, support emerging Welsh artists through established residency and showcase programmes and engage Welsh communities all year round.
INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY
We are using the extensive reach of Green Man to establish international networks to support Welsh artists with the ambition and quality to venture into new cultural markets. This includes an International Artist Exchange Programme at Green Man, and commissioning international collaborations to allow Welsh artists to co-create and tour beyond Wales.
Diolch
Our Founder Fiona Stewart | Ambassador Iwan Rheon | Trustees Natasha Hale, Joanna Owen, Ian Fielder and Dan Langford OBE | project partners, trainers, support workers, producers, directors, technical crew, project managers & all the lovely people who donated to the Green Man Trust over the years | Green Man Festival | Arts Council Wales | Arts Council England | Ashley Family Foundation | Bad Wolf Ltd | BOF (Michael & Leonie Parrish) | Bryan Adams Foundation | Cardiff University | Colin Riordan | Colwinston Charitable Trust | Community Foundation Wales | The Conran Family | Dai Davies | Dave & Karen Broadway | Emma & Ben Shuckburgh | Chris Nott & Elin Pinnell | Gary Morgan | GWR Customer & Community Improvement Fund | Hardlines Cafe | Ian Courtney | Jeremy Morton | Miller Research | Mr Trolley | PRS Foundation | Tom Beech | Ty Cerdd | University of South Wales | Wales Week in London | Welsh Broadcasting Trust | Woodfired Ltd