We believe artists should be paid fairly for their work. This page sets out how we approach fees at Westival, and what performing artists can expect when they work with us.
Headline and established artists
Fees are negotiated individually at commercial market rate, reflecting the artist’s profile, draw, and the scope of their performance.
Mid-tier professional artists
We pay at or above the Musicians’ Union and Equity recommended minimum rates as a baseline, and aim to go beyond that where the budget allows.
Emerging and early-career artists
We know that getting on a festival stage is one of the most important things for an artist at the start of their career, and we take that responsibility seriously. Fees for emerging artists are agreed individually and reflect what we can genuinely offer at each edition of the festival. At minimum, all performing artists receive full festival access, accreditation, meals, and bar. Where budget allows, we add a financial honorarium on top of that. Every emerging artist who performs at Westival also gets a structured feedback conversation, introductions to relevant industry contacts, and a clear pathway back to the festival as a paid artist as their career develops.
Expenses
Travel and accommodation are considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the artist’s location and the nature of the engagement.
Our commitment
We’re a small independent festival and we’re honest about the constraints that brings. What we won’t do is ask artists to work for exposure alone. If we’re inviting you to perform, we’re committing to looking after you properly.
Questions about fees? Get in touch at hello@westival.wales.