Rose Fenton: Director Free Word
Here is the last mentor for the Atelier Budapest 2-8 June 2016:s Rose Fenton isDirector of Free Word, an international centre for literature, literacy and free expression that explores and celebrates of the power of words to change lives.
Rose co- founded the London International Festival of Theatre – LIFT in 1980 and was its director for 25 years. She subsequently worked as an international freelance producer and arts adviser (2005 – 11) on projects including the pan- European Festivals in Transition (FIT) an initiative by 8 festivals to develop the role of international theatre festivals within the cultural landscape of an evolving Europe; and co authoring an Arts Culture and Creativity Strategy for the Olympic Park following the Olympic Games in 2012.
Rose is co- author The Turning Word, Stories from the London International Festival of Theatre. Sheis on the Advisory Board and develops projects with Tipping Point, an organisation that brings together scientists and artists internationally in responding to the challenges of climate change.
She is a mentor for the Clore Leadership Programme and is on the Board of a number of arts organisations including Aerowaves and the European House for Culture. Rose holds an Honorary Doctorate from De Montford University and an Honorary Fellowship from Dartington College of Arts. In 2005 she was awarded an OBE for services to drama.
‘If I have to highlight the vital qualities for Festival Directors and Managers I would include a personal passion to walk in other worlds and listen to and share others’ stories and perspectives; a strong commitment to freedom of expression and the belief that through the arts you can create a space for the important and difficult conversations about our society; the understanding of the need to develop a community of support and collaboration from across a wide spectrum of civil society with artists at the heart of the conversation; and the belief in the importance of building with your team a strong set of values which infuse everyone’s practice. At LIFT our set of values included trust, generosity, hospitality and respect. We also set up a permanent learning culture and acknowledged the need to be always open to taking risks, to experimentation and new ideas. I have tried to apply these values and approaches to whatever job or project I have been involved in ever since”
Renowned mentors from all over the world will guide the participants throughout the seven days of the Atelier BUDAPEST 2016 under the coordination of Hugo De Greef (Atelier Coordinator, former EFA Secretary General, Director European Capital of Culture Bruges 2002, Co-Founder Kaaitheater Brussels - Belgium): Rania Elias (Director of the Yabous Cultural Centre and Jerusalem Festival, Palestine), Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, (President Lyon Biennial, former long-standing Director Avignon Festival, France), Agnes Havas, (Director Armel Opera Festival), Nele Hertling, (Member of the strategy group ‘A Soul for Europe’, former vice-president Academy of Arts in Berlin, former Director Hebbel-Theatre Berlin, Germany), Michal Merczyński, (Director of the Malta Festival Poznan and founder and director of Nostalgia Festival Poznan, Poland.), Jonathan Mills (Director of the Edinburgh International Culture Summit, former Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, UK.)
More information about the Atelier BUDAPEST 2016 can be found on the Atelier website.