European Festivals Association (EFA)

➡ Support The Festival Academy Alumni to impact the work of the Flying Carpet Festival, the first mobile festival for children living in vulnerable situations, taking place at the Turkish-Syrian border.

The invaluable presence of Alumni will create international visibility for the festival, build meaningful collaborations with artists from the region and promote a deeper understanding of the role festivals play in fragile communities 💚

Find the link to donate and distribute the call here: https://www.every.org/the-festival-academy/f/empower-change-support

Watch the magic of the festival https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-xBo6wIr4C/?igsh=MWs0aGZkYTNxZ2NuMg== ✨

Take5* continues its presentation journey! ✈︎ After the pre-première in Brussels and a presentation organised within the scope of Aveiro 2024, EFA’s documentary by Film Director Stefan Arsenijevic was yesterday part of the SarajevoFest - East West Center Sarajevo programme. Next stop: Gent Festival van Vlaanderen this Sunday, 22 September, at 13.30. Join us: https://www.gentfestival.be/nl/inschrijvingen-take-5

What is European culture, if there is any? What is the role of an artist in a world full of complex challenges? What are the thoughts of 5 thought-provoking artists and 2 politicians on Europe’s colonial past and how do we deal with it in today’s public sphere?

🎬 Watch the trailer now: https://youtu.be/8LviQ9pOpI8?si=2HlfmlBj726DIneu
📸 Jaca Kalač. At Cineplexx Sarajevo during SarajevoFest - East West Center Sarajevo

🎶🌊 Music returns to the podium of the Baltic Sea from 22 September to 12 October. Our EFA Member Usedomer Musikfestival invites you to experience over 20 concerts on the isle of Usedom! ☀️ The programme for this edition covers a wide range of classical music spiced up with jazz and popular music: https://usedomer-musikfestival.de/programm/

Earlier this year, in May, the Usedom Music Festival hosted EFA's Arts Festivals Summit 2024. During that time, we had the opportunity to speak with Thomas Hummel, Intendant of the festival. You can listen to the EFAcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LQbTiQOXjzI?si=CrqZP3M98Zy4P82Y 🎧

Our EFA Member Bratislava Music Festival - Bratislavské hudobné slávnosti will hold its 59th edition from 20 September to 6 October 🇸🇰

This edition celebrates the Year of Czech Music and the 200th anniversary of Bedřich Smetana’s birth. It will feature renowned Slovak orchestras, ensembles, conductors and soloists alongside 8 prominent foreign orchestras, prestigious soloists and top-notch conductors from around the world 🌍🎵

For full programme details, visit the festival's official website: http://www.bhsfestival.sk/

📸 The Cleveland Orchestra by Alexander Trizuljak, Ján Lukáš

🚀 We are excited to launch "Count me in!" - a campaign to raise awareness and celebrate festivals committed to advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging (DEIAB). It aims to not only highlight successes but also identify gaps and challenges that impact the integration of DEIAB into the daily operations of festivals.

💬 🖥 Take part by sharing how your festival approaches DEIAB. Complete a survey and submit your stories by 31 October: https://www.efa-aef.eu/en/news/2193-count-me-in-diversity-equity-inclusion-accessibility-and-belonging-in-the-seat-of-arts-festivals/

Have a look at our invitation to think together about DEIAB practices: https://www.efa-aef.eu/en/news/2192-efa-diversity-equity-inclusion-accessibility-and-belonging/

We recently had the honour of speaking with Iván Fischer, a conductor, composer, opera director, thinker, and educator who stands among the great musical polymaths of our time. Known for his visionary approach to music, Fischer shared thoughts on his work, his perspective on Hungary's cultural landscape and hopes for a more united Europe through music. Read the article here: https://www.eye-to-eye.online/ivan-fischer/

And if you are around Belgium, Iván Fischer will be conducting the BFO - Budapest Festival Orchestra and the EUYO - The European Union Youth Orchestra next week, 23 September, at Bozar in the framework of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2024 🎻✨

Sarajevo Fest - East West Center Sarajevo returns for its 6th edition on 15-22 September 🥳 As Artistic Director Haris Pasovic mentions, "Art has its own deep meaning and it offers creative solutions to the questions we ask ourselves. Great artists who perform at this year’s Sarajevo Fest, with the power of their talent, knowledge and experience, inspire viewers and bring us fresh, exciting energy."

Our EFA Member programme includes theatre performances, a concert, forums, and panel discussions that dive into critical thinking and political discourse. It brings together eminent artists, journalists and intellectuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the ex-Yugoslav region and the world.
🔗https://sarajevofest.com/en/

The 31st International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival - Antalya Devlet Opera Ve Balesi will be held from 13 to 26 September in Turkey 🇹🇷

Established in 1994, our EFA Member presents outstanding examples of opera and ballet pieces within the historic setting of the Aspendos Antique Theatre. Artists Walter Fraccaro, Joana Zhelezcheva, Paolo Lardizzone and Astana Ballet Theatre will be on stage this year.

🎫 Discover more: https://www.operabale.gov.tr/en-us/Pages/HomePage.aspx

In partnership with Pearle Live Performance Europe, we have just released a brand-new infographic that breaks down the essentials of copyright clearance when working internationally. Whether you are part of a music group, theatre or dance company, this visual guide will help you understand:

🛡️What are the basics of copyright and neighbouring rights?
🔍 Who is responsible for rights clearance?
🔐 How rights holders and owners are protected?
✅ How to clear rights for live performances?
💸How royalties are calculated?

Check here: https://www.efa-aef.eu/en/news/2190-new-release-infographic-on-copyrights/

From 10 to 26 September, our EFA Member Gent Festival van Vlaanderen shifts its gaze to the cultural peripheries of Europe and invites music lovers on a musical journey along the edges of the European continent 🎻🎺🎶

During the 67th edition themed ‘Along the Borders’, star violinist Daniel Hope returns to his Irish roots, you will witness the vocal tradition of the Baltic states with Vox Clamantis, embark on a visit to Venice and Naples with Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński, and more. The festival will also host our EFA Member Odessa Classics, a Ukrainian festival living a nomadic existence because of the war. This collaboration has been initiated in the framework of EFA's initiative 'Joining hands and hearts, Festivals for Ukraine'. 🔗https://www.efa-aef.eu/en/news/2189-odessa-classics-at-flanders-festival-ghent/

Explore the festival programme: https://www.gentfestival.be/en/

The International Symposium ”Music alongside Danube”, organised within the framework of our EFA Member Международен музикален фестивал “Варненско лято”/ Varna Summer Music Fest, is dedicated to classical music traditions and modern tendencies of Danube countries and the interrelations among them 🛶

🏞 From 9 to 11 September, the Symposium blends a theoretical forum with live music illustrations and evening concerts. Leading musicologists from Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Romania, Hungary, and Serbia will present and discuss their scientific lectures. There will also be an open-air exhibition, “A Musical Flight over the Danube".
🔗 More details:

Music alongside the Danube - Varna Summer International Music Festival The International Symposium ”Music alongside Danube” is dedicated to classical music traditions and modern tendencies of Danube countries and interrelations among them. The Symposium ...

🎶 Spatial movement from one place to another is often essential, as seen in the symbiotic relationship between MITO SettembreMusica’s two host cities, Torino and Milan, whose connections run so deep.

🎻✨ From 6 to 22 September, embark upon an array of musical journeys and construct unique pathways through the multi-theme programme of our EFA Member. This year’s edition promises to be a classical music festival that is more in line with times, gifting concert-goers myriad opportunities for spiritual revival and reinvigoration. Check the programme: https://www.mitosettembremusica.it/en

SKUPI KamerFest- Muza is a chamber music festival in North Macedonia, celebrating its 7th edition from 5 until 16 September 🎶

Our EFA Member brings together artists from various countries to explore innovative approaches to classical and contemporary music while celebrating diverse traditions and perspectives. Explore the programme for this year:

SKUPI KamerFest 7th Edition SKUPI KamerFest is a chamber music festival organised in North Macedonia, celebrating its 7th edition from 5 till 16 September 2024.As every year, SKUPI KamerFest brings together artists various...

˖°𓇼🌊⋆ The Summer Edition of our e-magazine 'Eye-to-Eye, The Festival Quarterly' awaits!

This season, see festival-making through fresh eyes. Six articles offer insights on the key issues we all face for a better living together: well-being, inclusion, emerging artists, activism, Europe and its necessity of connecting with its artists, citizens and the rest of the world.

Featuring contributions from Iván Fischer, Naghmeh Manavi, Diana Anselmo, Elbenita Kajtazi, Anne Bessette, and Nika Brunet Milunovic.

🖇️ Happy reading: https://www.eye-to-eye.online/

📸 Gent Festival van Vlaanderen / Steven Hendrix

Varna, in Bulgaria, is investing major attention and resources into its vibrant festival scene, with the city itself hosting 35 festivals alongside numerous independent initiatives from local non-profits and commercial arts organisations 🇧🇬

Why does Varna truly grasp the power of festivals? EFA Secretary General Kathrin Deventer shares her insights after attending the Международен музикален фестивал “Варненско лято”/ Varna Summer Music Fest: https://www.efa-aef.eu/en/news/2186-community-building-varna-summer-international-music-festival/📚✨

As part of the International Visitors Programme by the NRW KULTURsekretariat , Simon Mundy, EFA Advisor, will be in North Rhine-Westphalia from 28 August to 1 September to participate in the “FEL!X Historical Performance Practice Festival of the Cologne Philharmonic” 🇩🇪

Since 2019, the Kölner Philharmonie has opened its season with FEL!X, where internationally renowned artists perform music from the 12th century to the present. Following the focus on France (2022) and England (2023), the 2024 edition turns its attention to Flanders.

We look forward to engaging in discussions with festival makers, directors from prominent classical music institutions and talented musicians from the North Rhine-Westphalia. It will also be an opportunity to gain insights into the cultural policies of the region. 🔗https://www.nrw-kultur.de/en/programmes/international-visitors-programme

📸Holland Baroque © Wouter Jansen

For 11 days, our EFA Member Het TheaterFestival will once again showcase the vibrant Flemish theatre scene in all its glory 🎭🇧🇪

From 5 to 15 September, you will find traces of the festival in Antwerp at Arenberg, c o r s o, De Klap, Monty, hetpaleis and the festival centre DE SINGEL International Arts Centre.

The TheatreFestival is a warm place where audiences and professionals can enjoy interesting theatre events and conversations about them. But also inspiring meetings and in-depth debates, masterclasses and instructive workshops.

Discover the full programme: theaterfestival.be

(...) 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦. 🌍

The European Parliament's contemporary art collection is a project initiated by Simone Veil in 1980. Today, with over 600 works, this culturally diverse collection reflects the evolution of the EU over two centuries, embodying the motto “united in diversity.”

Sol de la Guardia and Oscar Muñoz, from the Cultural Outreach Unit in the European Parliament, share their insights about the collection in the latest edition of our e-magazine Eye-To-Eye. Curious to learn more? Dive in now: https://www.eye-to-eye.online/sol-de-la-guardia-and-oscar-munoz/

The Renaissance returns to our EFA Member Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht from 23 August to 1 September 🍊🇳🇱

Sevilla will be at focus. The festival will touch upon contemporary themes such as exoticism and (post)colonialism, co-existence and oppression, paying attention to how people, in various circumstances, creatively and artistically express themselves. With the music of Morales, Guerrero and Peñalosa as the core repertoire, the festival creates a rare opportunity to hear a substantial piece of Spanish polyphony.

For more information and tickets, visit the website: www.oudemuziek.nl/festival

📣 Artists & cultural professionals, the third round of the Individual Mobility Action under the Culture Moves Europe scheme is now open!

It offers mobility grants in 40 Creative Europe countries for those who wish to develop their projects in architecture, cultural heritage, design and fashion design, literature, music, performing arts or visual arts abroad.

📅 You can apply until 30 November
🔗 More info:

Culture Moves Europe call for artists travelling abroad opens again The third call for individual mobility of artists and cultural professionals is now open for submission of applications for mobility grants to 40 Creative Europe countries.

🎻 From 22 August to 23 September, the international classical music elite will return to Merano, the garden and spa town of South Tyrol. Our EFA Member Südtirol festival merano . meran is proud to present a rich diversity of performances, including classical, baroque, jazz, world, chamber and vocal music, and concert films.

🎶 Under the theme " Hope and Soul ", its 39th edition aims to inspire joy, courage, and confidence in the face of the tense global situation. The festival offers 26 concerts in 8 concert formats at 14 venues. Have a look at the programme: https://www.meranofestival.com/en

📷 Damian Pertoll

📖 In the latest edition of our e-magazine Eye-to-Eye, Bruno Costa explores the complexities of European identity and the role outdoor arts festivals can play in bridging cultures and creating inclusive spaces for diverse expressions.

Bruno Costa, Co-director of Bússola and Cultural Studies PhD holder, focuses his research on European identity construction, with an emphasis on internationalising artistic projects and promoting European cultural cooperation. Read the article here: https://www.eye-to-eye.online/bruno-costa/

Get ready for 18 unforgettable days and nights during the upcoming edition of our EFA Member Helsingin juhlaviikot / Helsinki Festival 🇫🇮

🌠 You can enjoy classical and world music, theatre, dance, circus, visual arts, and urban art events from 15 August to 1 September. Highlights include dancer-choreographer Akram Khan’s breathtaking dance work "Jungle Book Reimagined" and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra’s new concert version of the opera "Khovanshchina," conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. The Night of the Arts, on 15 August, will feature hundreds of events, both big and small, created with the help and input of the residents. The highlight of the 35-year-old event will be Lauri Porra’s music experience in Senate Square, with over 100 bass instruments. Explore the programme: https://helsinkifestival.fi/en/programme/

Cities are creative centres. These are places where civil society takes responsibility, working hand in hand with policymakers to drive social innovation. Collaboration between cities, audiences, artists, and other stakeholders, based on a joint action plan and a shared set of values, is essential. Festivals and cities need to connect to give their communities a temper, a spirit, a face, a soul.

The 'Festival Cities Initiative' has been at the heart of our mission since 2018. We have been spotlighting those cities and regions that truly support their festival ecosystems. In 2022, this initiative evolved into the EFFE Seal for Festival Cities and Regions 🏅

Today, 29 cities and regions proudly hold the EFFE Seal. Discover what makes them special by exploring their Portraits on FestivalFinder.eu: https://www.efa-aef.eu/en/news/2185-the-festival-cities-and-regions-at-the-heart-of-efa/ 🎶

The Festival Cities and Regions at the heart of EFA Festival Cities and Regions are a cornerstone in the European Festivals Association (EFA)'s work and have found this recognition in the EFFE Seal for Festival Cities and Regions. Discover the ones...

📝 European Capitals of Culture Action 2020–2033 Survey

The first European Capital of Culture (ECoC) was 🇬🇷 Athens in 1985. Since then, over 60 cities across Europe have been awarded the title 🇪🇺

The European Commission has opened a public consultation to seek feedback from all stakeholders involved in the implementation, management, and delivery of the ECoC Action in the last 10 years, as well as from the wider public who are either interested or participate in culture.

🗓️ Fill in the survey by 24 September:

Have your say on the European Capitals of Culture! Tell us what you think about the European Capital of Culture action, so we can make it even better. The consultation is open until 24 September 2024.

Festival Jordi Savall, a meeting for music lovers to enjoy extraordinary concerts in millennial places 🎵 🇪🇸

Founded by the renowned gambist and conductor Jordi Savall, our EFA Member hosts outstanding national and international musical figures. Last year, during the Arts Festivals Summit 2023, we had the pleasure of speaking with Maestro Savall about his work and the festival. Watch the EFAcast here: https://youtu.be/g2o0hgvWNmU?si=HK3oYk2uxIIUg-m3

From 12 to 18 August, enjoy a rich programme of concerts, masterclasses and guided tours in beautiful Spain: https://festival.jordisavall.com/

📬 Curious about the latest happenings in the arts festivals scene?

Check out our August EFACTS to discover EFA Member festivals throughout August. Enjoy classical melodies in medieval settings or urban performances under the open sky. New regions have joined the EFFE Seal for Festival Cities and Regions and you can now find their profiles on FestivalFinder.eu. Plus, learn about Perform Europe’s selected proposals, the European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists - EFFEA Generation #2 Outtake Seminar, news from The Festival Academy, and more. See here: https://mail.statik.be/t/r-e-tdjudlkt-njlhkfjdh-uu/

From 7 to 23 August, opera and lyrical music enthusiasts will meet in Pesaro, the birthplace of Gioachino Rossini, for the 45th Rossini Opera Festival. Our EFA Member is extended to 17 days, offering everyone more time to enjoy the performances, which this year align with events part of Pesaro 2024 - Capitale italiana della cultura 🇮🇹

🏰 There will be two new productions, 𝘉𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘢 𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘰 and 𝘌𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦, plus three revivals, 𝘓’𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦, 𝘐𝘭 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪 𝘚𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘢 and 𝘐𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘰 𝘢 𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘮𝘴, performed by the young talents of the 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘢 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 “𝘈𝘭𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘰 𝘡𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘢”. The concert schedule includes the world premiere of the revised 𝘔𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢 𝘥𝘪 𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢, the cantata 𝘐𝘭 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘰, two opera-symphonic concerts and five Belcanto concerts. The festival will conclude with 𝘐𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘰 𝘢 𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘮𝘴. For more details, check here: https://www.rossinioperafestival.it/en/

After a worldwide search, our EFA Member Edinburgh Festivals has appointed Lori Anderson as its new Director! Lori will be succeeding Julia Amour, who is stepping down from the role in October 2024. We wish Lori the best of luck in her new position and look forward to the continued success of our joint efforts.

🌍 Formed in 2007, Festivals Edinburgh is created and driven by the directors of Edinburgh’s 11 major international festivals to take the lead on their joint strategic development and work to sustain their leadership role locally and globally.

You can read the full story at https://www.edinburghfestivalcity.com/about/news/304-festivals-edinburgh-appoints-new-director.

Festivals Edinburgh Appoints New Director After a worldwide search, Festivals Edinburgh has appointed Lori [Lorraine] Anderson as its new Director, succeeding Julia Amour who is stepping down from the role in October 2024.