working

The Guardian debate at the Hay Festival

at hay festival

The Festival is run by a tight team who’ve worked together for between 5 and 15 years. It is – like Tony Benn’s famous description – a bit like gathering for Christmas, with new family joining every year.

All the work is pretty demanding, but the atmosphere is great and the friendships formed do seem to have survived flood, tempest, euphoric romance and the close scrutiny of the US security services...



  • help as a steward

    apply here

  • All the Festival events are stewarded by teams of between 4 and 10. The main job is to make sure the audiences are safe and happy before, during, and after each event.

    Stewards work shifts of 3–4 hours. It’s voluntary but fun and you’ll make lots of good friends.

    If you are interested in stewarding at Hay Festival 2009 in Wales, complete our quick online form and let us know which parts of the day you would be available to help.

  • working in the box office

     

  • The Box Office takes on an extra 10 box office staff in May. The Box Office team are the first point of contact for the public once the brochure is published. You need to be calm, good on the telephone, familiar with computers and to enjoy working with the public. Retail experience, a sense of humour and rhino-hide help. Very long hours and fair pay.

    For enquiries about working in 2010, please email Penny or Andy.

  • apply as an intern

  • Applications to intern at Hay 2010 (Green Room and Press Office) will be open from October 2009. Applicants should have good social skills and plenty of energy, and must be free from 27 May to 6 June 2010. Accommodation and meals will be provided.

    For enquiries about working in 2010, please email Jesse (Green Room) or Hannah (Press Office).

  • join the site crew

    apply here

  • Fred Wright is looking for site crew to assist with the construction of the festival site in the weeks running up to and after the festival has finished. Interested parties should contact him directly on 07968 333 095 or by email.