Atelier for Young Festival Managers Singapore set to be great success

The Atelier for Young Festival Managers SINGAPORE 2011 (14-21 May) received an overwhelming response with more than 120 applications from all over the world. The European Festivals Association (EFA) together with its partners selected 45 emerging artistic directors from 27 countries and five continents to take part in the one week intense training programme. Four high-level mentors developed an intense working schedule with the contribution of eight renowned festival managers from all over the world. This combination makes the Atelier one of a kind. The fourth edition is already in preparation: IZMIR 2011 takes place from 24-31 October 2011. Singapore will be the venue for Asia’s first Atelier for Young Festival Managers from 14 to 21 May 2011. The selected group of young festival managers will be participating in the rigorous one-week training programme, designed to nurture future festival leaders. Renowned festival managers and festival leaders will be acting as the participants’ mentors under the coordination of Hugo De Greef, General Coordinator of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers; Former EFA Secretary General (2004-2008); Director European Capital of Culture Bruges 2002; Co-Founder Kaaitheater, Brussels, Belgium: Rose Fenton (International Arts Producer and Advisor, London, United Kingdom), Nele Hertling (Member of Strategy Group, A Soul for Europe, Berlin; Former Director Hebbel-Theatre, Berlin; Director European Capital of Culture Berlin, 1988, Germany), Goh Ching Lee (former Director of the Singapore Arts Festival; Executive and Artistic Director CultureLink, Singapore) and Grace Lang (Programme Director, Hong Kong Arts Festival). Furthermore, remarkable festival directors will be in attendance to share their knowledge. They include Robyn Archer (Creative Director The Centenary of Canberra (2013); Artistic Director The Light in Winter, Melbourne, Australia), Norman Armour (Executive Director PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Vancouver, Canada), Bernard Faivre d’Arcier (Vice-President Biennale de la Danse de Lyon; Former Director Festival d’Avignon, France), Seok Kyu Choi (Creative Producer AsiaNow Productions, Jongno-gu, South Korea), Wai Lap Kwong (Programme Director Guangdong Modern Dance Festival, China), and Carla Van Zon (Artistic Director Auckland Arts Festival). Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with managers and artists of the Singapore Arts Festival and other venues in the city. The Atelier SINGAPORE 2011 is jointly organised by the European Festivals Association (EFA), initiator of the Atelier and LASALLE College of the Arts, together with the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF). This first edition of the Atelier in Singapore was co-incepted by CultureLink - a multidimensional cultural agency founded by Ms Goh Ching Lee, and the European Festivals Association. Related documents and links: • Website SINGAPORE 2011 • Press release (12 May 2011): International Festival Experts in Singapore for First Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Asia • Event announcement (11 May 2011) • Closing ceremony Atelier SINGAPORE 2011 • Official schedule (programme) • CVs mentors and presenters • Atelier SINGAPORE 2011 photo gallery • [http://www.facebook.com/AtelierForYoungFestivalManagers]Atelier on facebook – Become a fan!