Atelier IZMIR 2011 – 42 participants selected, 8 presenters confirmed

The Atelier for Young Festival Managers – initiated by the European Festivals Association (EFA) – will take place in Izmir/Turkey from 24 to 31 October 2011, hosted by the International Izmir Festival. Following its last remarkable edition in Singapore (May 2011), the Atelier IZMIR 2011 will bring together 42 talented young festival managers from 31 countries, eager to learn from the experience of 8 renowned festival directors, artists and cultural managers from all over the world. EFA welcomes renowned festival directors who will guide the participants throughout the seven days of the Atelier, under the coordination of Hugo De Greef (former EFA Secretary General, General Manager Bruges European Capital of Culture 2002, Founder and former Director Kaaitheater, Brussels – Belgium): Robyn Archer (Creative Director The Centenary of Canberra (2013), Artistic Director The Light in Winter, Melbourne – Australia), Rose Fenton (International Arts Producer and Advisor, London – United Kingdom), Ching-Lee Goh (Executive and Artistic Director CultureLink Singapore, former Director Singapore Arts Festival – Singapore), Nele Hertling (Member Strategy Group “A Soul for Europe”, former Director Hebbel-Theatre, Berlin, General Manager Berlin European Capital of Culture 1988 – Germany), Michal Merzcyński (Director National Audiovisual Institute, Warsaw – Poland), Jonathan Mills (Festival Director and Chief Executive Edinburgh International Festival – United Kingdom) and Fruzsina Szép (Programme Director Sziget Festival, Budapest, founding Director Hungarian Music Export Office – Hungary). Following the motto coined by Bernard Faivre d’Arcier “The true role of a festival is to help artists to dare, to engage in new projects…,” the Atelier focuses on the artistic aspects of festival management. “The opportunity offered to participants to engage with managers and artists of such international reputation also makes the Atelier a unique stage to explore creative ideas and open up new perspectives,” EFA President Darko Brlek underlines. “Izmir will be the inspiring setting for the fourth edition of the Atelier. The exceptional historic and cultural features of our ancient city bonding Asia to Europe offer a lot of food for thought for the emerging artistic directors,” stresses Filiz Sarper, Director of the International Izmir Festival. The public is invited to the closing session on Sunday, 30 October 2011. A keynote speech by Robyn Archer, as well as a round table with an outstanding group of festival directors and cultural actors will bring IZMIR 2011 to a close. Atelier participants experience intense discussions, inspiring presentations and decisive encounters which shape their careers as art professionals. With the Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Görlitz (2006), Varna (2009), Singapore (2011) and the coming edition in Izmir, 150 young festival managers will have benefitted from this unique experience. Latest news and more information on presenters and participants can be found at www.atelierforyoungfestivalmanagers.eu. Please contact atelier@efa-aef.eu with further questions. Related links and documents: • Press release (30 August 2011) • Biographies of mentors and presenters • Atelier IZMIR 2011