Operations and Health & Safety: GALA 2022
Background
GALA Festival was founded in 2016 and is now known to be one of London’s best and most popular day festivals. GALA showcases the best up and coming electronic dance music talent from South London together with globally renowned DJ’s and live bands who have shaped today’s club culture.
OPS supported The Fair’s production team throughout the planning phases of the event, working closely with GALA to bring their vision to life whilst also satisfying the requirements of Southwark Council and the Safety Advisory Group to deliver a successful and safe event.
Challenges
As GALA fell on the weekend of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the promoters were keen to make the most of the extra Bank Holiday by extending GALA to a four day event for the first time.
OPS were required to obtain a new Premises Licence to cover the additional event day.
Due to proposed flood alleviation works in Peckham Rye Park, GALA needed a new home for 2022.
OPS successfully obtained a new Premises Licence for Peckham Rye Park and Common, and supported The Fair to redesign the site plan, queue lanes and ingress/egress plans due to the additional event day and move to Peckham Rye Common.
In the month prior to GALA, the flood alleviation works were postponed and GALA was able to return to their home at Peckham Rye Park. OPS assisted GALA and The Fair to make this last minute change possible adapting paperwork and liaising with the Local Authorities.
Working with GALA and JAM Studio Architects to ensure the visionary Beacons stage could open safely. The new stage was a bespoke scaffold structure featuring two high up dance platforms giving the audience a unique view of the dancefloor.
OPS supported GALA’s Head Of Sustainability to make changes based on the results of the 2021 sustainability report.
Delivery
Onsite Health and Safety during element of the build, break and entire live show
SAG Attendance
Event Safety Management Plan
Event Risk Assessment
Fire Risk Assessment
Ingress and Egress Plan
Show Stop Plan
Emergency Procedures
Results
Sell out across all 3 days
Great feedback from the audience and the press