National Rural Touring Forum: An Introduction to Rural Touring 

A presentation from Matthew Linley, chair of the National Rural Touring Forum, designed to give you an insight into rural touring and how it might be right for you. 

From coast to coast, highland to lowland, there’s an incredible energy when a local community hosts a show they’ve hand-picked in their own spaces. Last year National Rural Touring Forum members presented shows in 1,470 venues to 270,000 audiences. Do you want to be part of that? 

Rural touring isn’t just about “fitting a show into a village hall” – it’s about being invited into a community’s front room to share a story, working together to create a very special kind of magic. 

This presentation from National Rural Touring Forum Chair (and Glitch producer) Matthew Linley is designed to give you an introduction to the work of the NRTF, rural touring schemes, and an insight into rural touring and why and how it might be right for you. We are thrilled to also welcome Mark Wallace (Director) and Claire Ayres (Creative Producer) from Beaford Arts. 

National Rural Touring Forum  

The National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF) connects, develops, and supports a vibrant ecosystem that brings high-quality artistic experiences to rural communities across the UK. NRTF’s mission is to engage diverse audiences, strengthen rural and local networks, and advocate for the value of accessible cultural experiences. 

About CO-LAB 

CO-LAB, a strand of TRP’s Artist Development work, is proud to offer artists opportunities to connect with world class industry partners via programmes, masterclasses, talks, and touring offers. To find out more, please visit our Artist Development page.