Application, Selection, Fees & Funding

Good to know: 

• There is no age limit, but it may be interesting to know that the average age of Atelier participants (from experience of past editions) is 35
• excellent knowledge of English (working language of the Atelier)

Applicants must:

• be supported by a festival, a cultural venue or another initiative in the cultural sector; or
• be supported by a training/academic institute (study module); or
• proof future employment in the field; or
• demonstrate strong personal arguments and motives.

Participants must:

• deal with one or more artistic disciplines within a festival or
• have a basic practical knowledge in festival operation
• demonstrate the ambition to deepen their skills in the field of programming or in a department closely related to it;
• prove that a study course (already completed or due to be completed) is in line with the Atelier; or
• give evidence of his/her ambition to work in the festival business or cultural field.

The fee includes accommodation for seven nights, registration, working documents, access to all sessions, meals and drinks, receptions, local transport, cultural and artistic programme, and follow–up activities.

• Full course fee:  €2100 
• Reduced course fee for EFA member festivals:  €1600

Following selection, Atelier participants will receive a request of payment for the full amount, with a request to pay an advance sum of 300 Euro (non-refundable) within 10 days of receiving the selection letter. The remaining 1800 Euro (for non-EFA members) or 1300 Euro (for individual EFA members) has to be paid as indicated on the request of payment. Please ensure that The Festival Academy receives the contribution net. The participant is in charge of bank costs related to international payment. Travel expenses and insurance are the responsibility of the participant. 

The Festival Academy will assist as much as possible with visa issues and other permissions in preparation for the Atelier.

Funding opportunities for a training programme such as the Atelier are numerous at local/national level. 

The Festival Academy advises applicants to start researching funding opportunities at national and international level from the moment they apply. You can have a look at general information and previous examples of participants’ funding and funding institutes here.

IETM has published a guide as well on their website to funding opportunities for arts and culture. 

• Belgian festival managers who work for an organisation that belongs to PC304 can use the sectoral training grant from ‘Sociaal Fonds voor de Podiumkunsten’ to fund part of their participation in the Atelier. For more information visit www.podiumkunsten.be or contact Christa Criel at Christa.Criel@podiumkunsten.be

• Two Festival Managers working in the Arab Region can receive support in the framework of the partnership between The Arab Fund for Arts & Culture (AFAC) and The Festival Academy (an initiative of the European Festivals Association) to give more festival managers from the Arab region the chance to participate in the Ateliers for Young Festival Managers. Please find here the list of countries that are eligible to apply. You need to be a citizen of one of the listed countries or regions but you need not necessarily reside or be employed there to be eligible. The applications will be evaluated by an expert from both AFAC and The Festival Academy.  

• The International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) is an independent organisation of cities and regions offering shelter to writers and artists at risk, advancing freedom of expression, defending democratic values and promoting international solidarity. The joint project  entitled Act for Global Change: a global conversation between the arts and the world (ACT) gives the opportunity to artists related to ICORN to be selected to take part in the training programme in the arts festivals’ context organized by The Festival Academy.

• The DOEN Foundation believes that it is possible to achieve a green, socially inclusive, and creative society, and provides support to eligible festival managers to gain valuable training striving for the same goals. Participants currently working in Uganda, Kenya, Senegal, and Mali will be automatically considered for DOEN support, and applications will be reviewed by an expert from both DOEN and The Festival Academy. 

• Dutch Performing Arts aims to intensify the contact between Dutch makers and international presenters by supporting Dutch theatre, music, and dance abroad. Upon requirement (via the Atelier's official application form), Dutch festival managers may have their applications recommended by The Festival Academy for support from the Dutch Performing Arts. This process is done internally by The Festival Academy and the Dutch Performing Arts fund, with no direct action from the applicants being required or encouraged after filling in the Atelier’s official application form. Eligible applications will be evaluated by an expert from both the Dutch Performing Arts and The Festival Academy.

• The British Council and Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development are issuing a Call for Proposals to support Mobility in and from Africa, specifically prioritising young artists and cultural practitioners from a range of African countries: Botswana; Ethiopia; Ghana; Kenya; Malawi; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; Sierra Leone; South Africa; South Sudan; Sudan; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe. More information can be found here.