Cambridge Literary Festival

The Problem

The Cambridge Literary Festival (CLF) is a landmark cultural event in the UK, hosting hundreds of authors, thinkers, and scientists every year. Traditionally staged in Cambridge’s historic venues, the festival thrived on live interaction.

When COVID-19 disrupted the 2020 spring edition, CLF faced a tough choice: cancel entirely or reinvent itself digitally. The team chose reinvention. They envisioned a platform where audiences could purchase access to live-streamed sessions, watch past talks, and subscribe like they would with any modern streaming service.

But the challenge was steep:
➔ Build a secure video streaming and subscription platform from scratch
➔ Integrate with existing CRM and ticketing systems
➔ Design a user experience friendly for both digital natives and less tech-savvy audiences
➔ Deliver it all before the autumn-winter edition went live

The Solution

CLF partnered with ASPER BROTHERS to design and launch a full-featured digital festival platform in just a couple of weeks.

We transformed the CLF website from a static information hub into a dynamic streaming and subscription service, enabling global audiences to engage with the festival. Built on WordPress and WooCommerce, the platform integrated with Vimeo for video hosting, ThankQ CRM for user management, and Mailchimp for communication, ensuring the CLF team could manage operations efficiently.

The solution included a clean, intuitive UX designed around CLF’s established brand identity. The result: a simple yet elegant platform that reflected the prestige of the festival while making digital access seamless.

Key Features

Subscription & Ticketing
➔ Paid access to live-streamed events and recorded content
➔ Multiple tiers for annual subscribers with added perks and discounts
➔ Streamlined purchase and checkout flow

Video Streaming & Content Library
➔ Vimeo integration for secure hosting and streaming
➔ Video library with event replays and curated playlists
➔ Optimized player experience across devices

Festival Experience Online
➔ Event pages with detailed descriptions and speaker profiles
➔ Searchable catalog for quick access to favorite authors
➔ Black-and-yellow brand design reflecting CLF’s identity

Back-Office Integrations
➔ ThankQ CRM integration for audience management
➔ Mailchimp integration for campaigns and announcements
➔ Admin panel for managing events, speakers, and content

Feedback from the client

Client feedback speaks louder than any case study

Asper Brothers delivered exceptional results, rebuilding our entire website with features like user accounts, ticketing, e-commerce, Vimeo integration, CRM API, and an online player. Their professional, meticulous planning and tireless dedication helped our charity survive the pandemic. Communication was clear and thorough, with impeccable backlog management. We’re deeply thankful for their outstanding support and sound advice throughout.

Clare Munday, Head of Digital, Cambridge Literary Festival

TALK WITH US

Bringing a world-class festival of ideas online.

The Problem

The Solution

Key Features

Feedback from the client

Impact

Tools and Technologies

We built this project with a stack chosen for speed, scalability, and reliability.

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