Atelier News #1: Inspiring start for the 4th Atelier for Young Festival Managers

On Monday, 24 October 2011 in Izmir, the opening ceremony of the 4th edition of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers was held in the brand new Music Museum created by the Atelier host, the Izmir Foundation for Culture, Arts and Education (İKSEV), in the presence of the Vice-governor of Izmir, Mr Nevzat Ergün, and former State Minister for Culture, Mr Işılay Saygın. 38 enthusiastic participants were welcomed by Mrs Filiz Sarper, Executive Board President of İKSEV, Mr Darko Brlek, President of the European Festivals Association (EFA), as well as by the Vice-governor of Izmir, Mr Nevzat Ergün. “Every effort made to shape the future, to turn dreams come alive, to be able to open the past, to accumulate experiences in to innovations serves humanity. The İzmir Foundation for Culture Arts and Education (İKSEV) believes the most important investment must be made to youth. With this belief, hosting the Atelier for Young Festival Managers seems to be very meaningful. Transfer of knowledge, giving opportunities to young generations, to new ideas, to creative formations lead the festivals not just to be a stage that brings audience and artists together but a platform that enables education, cultural awareness, tolerance and better comprehension of the common denominators of humanity,” said Mrs Sarper. Mr Ertuğrul Günay, Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, also delivered a message to the Atelier participants, welcoming them to the city of Izmir and its 8000 years history, wishing them a wonderful time in Izmir with its rich and diverse culture – “a place of dialogue between civilizations”. Rose Fenton spoke on behalf of all Atelier mentors and presenters, setting the spirit for a fruitful week of exchanges on the festivals of the future. “What are the opportunities and the challenges of making a festival in the 21st century?” she asked. All mentors and presenters are looking forward to debating this question with the next generation of festival leaders, the next generation of pioneers in the arts. Robyn Archer delivered once again an inspiring speech on the duality of festivals: should they serve the audiences or the artists? Robyn clearly stated her firm belief that if a festival serves artists, it serves audiences at the same time: “Let’s hope that history doesn’t make fools of us – that we are not seen as the century that advocated the utilitarian use of art and artists, or art for the sake of swelling audience numbers, economic development, tourist statistics and bragging rights, to the detriment of conditions for those whose real value is contingent on a space for thought, sometimes isolation and experiment. Let’s make sure we serve artists, in their own right. If we serve them to ensure continuing practice of creativity at the edge, then we serve not only audiences but we serve community, society and the world at large.” All people present at the Opening Ceremony were then invited to a reception in the garden of the Music Museum and to a guided tour through the night in Izmir, with beautiful views of the ocean and the city, as well as information about Izmir’s rich past. The second day of IZMIR 2011 includes working sessions at the Foundation Offices and a visit of the National Opera in between the stage set-up for the Opera “Gypsy King”. For further information please visit the Atelier website or contact EFA at atelier@efa-aef.eu. More photos at the Photo Gallery. Related news: • Atelier News #7: End of the week, new beginning! • Atelier News #6: To the roots of civilizations • Atelier News #5: Journey through the festivals of the world • Atelier News #4: Discussing co-productions and meeting the artist • Atelier News #3: Experienced festival directors disclose their strategies and driving forces • Atelier News #2: Second Atelier day sparking many “aha moments”