Food Festival Curator
Durham County Council, a local government authority, is seeking a supplier to curate and support delivery of the Bishop Auckland and Seaham Food Festivals in 2027. The contract covers festival programming, recruitment and management of traders, exhibitors and performers, booking of activities, marketing and refreshed festival branding linked to Visit County Durham, commercial development, sponsorship and income generation, stakeholder and community engagement, and onsite event operations. The supplier must work with the Council’s festival team and partners, develop programmes within agreed objectives and budgets, support year-round activity, monitor budgets, provide progress reports and complete post-event evaluation. The contract duration is not stated, but it includes an option to extend for two further 12-month periods from the actual end date; no estimated value or delivery region has been published beyond the named festival locations. The key requirement is the ability to provide end-to-end professional festival curation and delivery across both events, including effective management of traders, performers, partners and event operations.
Buyer: Durham County Council. Source: Find a Tender. Updated 25 Sept 2026.
Key facts
- Estimated value: £80k
- Bids close: 23 Oct 2026
- Location: Durham CC
- Procedure: Open procedure
- Contract period: 2 Nov 2026 to 27 Sept 2028
- Category: Event services (79952000)
From the official notice
Durham County Council seeks to appoint a supplier to provide curator services for the Bishop Auckland and Seaham Food Festivals 2027. Working with the Council's festival team and partners, the provider will support the planning, development and delivery of both festivals. Services will include festival programming, trader and exhibitor recruitment, performer and activity bookings, marketing support, commercial development, sponsorship opportunities and onsite event delivery. The supplier will assist in developing programmes aligned to agreed objectives and budgets, including year-round activity; recruit and manage traders, exhibitors and performers; support sponsorship and income generation; contribute to marketing, including development of a refreshed festival brand linked to Visit County Durham; engage with stakeholders and community organisations; support event operations; and provide progress reports, budget monitoring and post-event evaluation.
View the official notice
Questions about this tender
When is the deadline?
Bids close on 23 Oct 2026.
What is it worth?
The estimated value is £80k.
Who can apply?
The buyer has marked it as suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
How do I bid?
Open the official notice, register on the buyer's portal and submit your bid before the deadline.
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