Atelier for Young Festival Managers, 1st edition in Asia: taking it to a new level

The Atelier SINGAPORE 2011 – initiated by the European Festivals Association (EFA) – concluded with remarkable and unexpected results. The 3rd edition of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers took place from 14-21 May 2011 in Singapore. This seven days training programme is unique in the field of festival programming and management. It allowed 34 participants from 20 countries and five continents to meet, exchange, establish sustainable ties for the future, and to benefit from the wealth of experience of some 15 renowned festival directors, artists and cultural managers. Today, the Atelier can look on an ever-growing network of “alumni”: after three editions, 102 young festival managers and 32 presenters from all over the world have participated in the Atelier for Young Festival Managers. Under the coordination of Hugo De Greef (Former EFA Secretary General, General Manager Brugge European Capital of Culture 2002, Belgium), four Mentors – Rose Fenton (International Arts Producer and Advisor, UK), Ching-Lee Goh (Executive and Artistic Director CultureLink Singapore), Nele Hertling (Member of Strategy Group A Soul for Europe, Germany) and Grace Lang (Programme Director Hong Kong Arts Festival Society, China) – guided the participants through working groups and lectures, interactive exchanges and insightful face-to-face talks about case studies. Six leading and renowned festival directors – Robyn Archer (Artistic Director The Light in Winter, Australia), Norman Armour (Executive Director PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Canada), Seok Kyu Choi (Creative Producer AsiaNow Productions, South Korea), Bernard Faivre d’Arcier (President La Biennale de la Danse de Lyon, France), Wai-Lap Kwong (Programme Director Guangdong Modern Dance Festival, China) and Carla van Zon (Artistic Director Auckland Arts Festival, New-Zealand) – reflected about the artistic aspects of festival management, touching upon issues such as artistic vision, political and social responsibility, internationalisation, networking, renewal and sustainability. Furthermore, the Atelier allowed all participants to meet and exchange with artists such as Alain Platel (founder Les ballets C de la B), and cultural and political leaders, such as Kris Peeters (Minister-President of Flanders) and Ambassador Dominique Girard (Executive Director Asia-Europe Foundation). “For five years now, the Atelier has planted the seeds for exciting international exchanges and long-term collaborations amongst the next generation of festival managers, challenged by a globalised world. This edition has taken the Atelier to a new standard and EFA is ready to develop this initiative into an independent training programme for young, dynamic and passionate festival makers worldwide,” says Darko Brlek, President of EFA. The Atelier SINGAPORE 2011 has been hosted by LASALLE College of the Arts Singapore and co-organised with the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), in partnership with the Association of Asian Performing Arts Festivals (AAPAF), the Singapore Arts Festival and CultureLink Singapore. The 4th edition of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers is to take place from 24 October to 31 October 2011 in Izmir, Turkey, hosted by the International Izmir Festival. Contact: Johanna Wrede Project Assistant Atelier for Young Festival Managers European Festivals Association Kleine Gentstraat 46 B-9051 Gent • Belgium Tel: + 32 9 241 80 80 Fax: + 32 9 241 80 89 atelier@efa-aef.eu www.efa-aef.eu A full coverage with schedule, speeches, presentations and working sessions d will be available soon at www.efa-aef.eu/en/activities/atelier/singapore. If you are interested in more information, in photos of mentors and presenters or an interview, please contact Johanna Wrede (+32 9 241 8080; atelier@efa-aef.eu). Related links and documents: • Press release (31 May 2011) • 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 • Atelier on facebook – Become a fan!