Two Ateliers for Young Festival Managers 2011: EFA launches Call for Application

Open Call for Application launched for unique training programme for emerging artistic festival directors to take place in Singapore (14-21 May 2011) and Izmir/Turkey (24-31 October 2011) The Atelier for Young Festival Managers is an intense, rigorous one week training programme addressed at emerging artistic festival directors worldwide. The Ateliers in 2011 follow the guiding motto “The true role of a festival is to help artists to dare, to engage in new projects”, a phrase coined by Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, former director of the Festival d’Avignon. Initiated by the European Festivals Association (EFA), it will be organised for the first time twice – in Spring and Autumn. It premiers in Asia from 14-21 May 2011 (Singapore) and takes place in Izmir/Turkey from 24-31 October 2011. “The Atelier is about formulating experiences and passing on knowledge to a next (new) generation of festival makers: knowledge about the arts, artists and festival formulas, thematically focusing on the very essence of arts festivals: the art and the artist,” explains EFA Secretary General Kathrin Deventer. Each Atelier will bring together 45 festival managers from all over the world. Distinguished festival directors including Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, Rose Fenton, Goh Ching Lee, Hugo De Greef and Nele Hertling, together with 8 well selected, renowned festival pioneers from all over the world being present for at least 2 days share their experiences. In lectures, one-to-one talks, group discussions as well as intense workshops about case studies, participant discuss issues touching upon the artistic vision, political and social responsibility, internationalisation, networking, renewal and sustainability. Applicants interested in the upcoming Ateliers are invited to read the Call for Application and submit the Application Form: for SINGAPORE 2011 until 17 December 2010 and for IZMIR 2011 until 7 February 2011. All information about the Atelier, the selection criteria and procedure are included in the Call for Application. The Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Asia is co-organised between EFA and LaSalle College of the Arts Singapore, in cooperation with the Association of Asian Performing Arts Festivals (AAPAF) and the Singapore International Arts Festival. As an Asian city full of vibrant cultural life, contrasts and transformation, Singapore bears distinctive challenges that Atelier participants will explore. The Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Europe is co-organised between EFA and the International Izmir Festival. The exceptional historic and cultural features of ancient Izmir and its surroundings (including close by Ephesus) bonding Asia to Europe offer food for thought during the Atelier. Co-organisers affirm that cultural organisations and academic institutions need to embrace the continuity of professional development. The 2011 Ateliers are organised in continuation of two successful editions: in 2006 in Görlitz/Germany and in 2009 in Varna/Bulgaria. By now, the Atelier has established itself as a unique platform for the exchange of ideas, the development of artistic visions and new networks, the only one featuring such a distinguished group of festival leaders and cultural experts. The publication EFA BOOKS 3 “Cahier de l’Atelier” serves as a handbook for participants; a follow-up edition is to be published in 2011. All documents, latest news and information about previous editions can be consulted on the Atelier pages on the EFA website (www.efa-aef.eu/en/activities/atelier). Contact atelier@efa-aef.eu in case of further questions. Download the press release: • Press release (10 November 2010): Launch Ateliers 2011 • Communiqué de presse (10 novembre 2010): Lancement Ateliers 2011 • Pressemitteilung (10 November 2010): Ankündigung Ateliers 2011