Atelier for Young Festival Managers LJUBLJANA 2012 starts today: Follow online!

The Atelier LJUBLJANA 2012 is running from 14 to 21 October 2012 in Ljubljana (Slovenia)! Starting today with an inspiring opening session, the fifth Atelier is set to be a great success. Follow the EFA channels in the next days: stay up-to-date and participate online! EFA channels keeping you in the loop • Follow the EFA news: a daily news reporting back from the Atelier will be published • Follow the Atelier on a dedicated facebook page: highlights will be shared • Follow the Atelier on the EFA facebook page • Follow EFA on Twitter • Get the EFA RSS Feed: an easy way to stay up-to-date The Atelier online on partners’ pages Many partners throughout the world are featuring the Atelier. Up to now, LJUBLJANA 2012 has received an amazing media attention. Opening of Atelier LJUBLJANA 2012 takes place today The European Festivals Association (EFA) and this edition’s host, the Ljubljana Festival, warmly invite the press and the public to the Opening Ceremony of the Atelier with a welcome by Zoran Janković, Mayor City of Ljubljana, addresses by Darko Brlek, EFA President, Artistic and General Director Ljubljana Festival; Kathrin Deventer, EFA Secretary General; James Hampson, Director British Council Slovenia; and Graham Sheffield, former Artistic Director Barbican London, Director Arts British Council London. Internationally renowned Australian festival director Robyn Archer will deliver the keynote speech Outstanding programme awaiting participants and presenters alike Under the coordination of Hugo De Greef, an intense 7-day programme has been prepared for the participants with talks, workshops, case study discussions, lectures, and a cultural programme digging into Ljubljana’s cultural and artistic life. 32 young festival managers from 21 countries attending LJBULJANA 2012 Coming from Australia, Belgium, Brasil, Egypt, Estonia, France, Georgia, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Palestine, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, UK, United Arab Emirates, and USA, the participants have the chance to develop a unique international network thanks to the Atelier. Eight renowned festival managers from all over the world on board for LJUBLJANA 2012 In the run-up of the Atelier EFA introduced the eight festival managers attending the Atelier to share their rich experiences with the next generation of festival directors. At a glance: • Robyn Archer (Creative Director The Centenary of Canberra (2013), Artistic Director The Light In Winter Melbourne; Australia) • Hugo De Greef (initiator of festivals, General Manager Bruges European Capital of Culture 2002; Belgium) • Bernard Faivre d’Arcier (former long-standing Artistic Director Avignon Festival, President Lyon Biennial; France) • Nele Hertling (Vice-Chair Academy of Arts Berlin; Germany) • Michal Merczynski (Director Malta Festival Poznan; Poland) • Jonathan Mills (Festival Director and Chief Executive Edinburgh International Festival; UK) • Gerard Mortier (General Director Teatro Real de Madrid, former Director Salzburger Festpiele, former Director Ruhr Triennale; Belgium) • Fruzsina Szép (Programme Director Sziget Festival, Budapest; Hungary) Three public events • Sunday, 14 October, 19:00, Ljubljana Castle: Opening Ceremony with Zoran Janković, Mayor City of Ljubljana; Darko Brlek, EFA President, Artistic and General Director Ljubljana Festival; James Hampson, Director British Council Slovenia; and Graham Sheffield, former Artistic Director Barbican London, Director Arts British Council London. The keynote speech will be delivered by Robyn Archer. • Thursday, 18 October, 13:30, Križanke (Knight’s Hall): Press Conference and launch EFA BOOKS 5 “Inside/Insight Festivals. 9 Festival Directors – 9 Stories” with Darko Brlek, Kathrin Deventer, Hugo De Greef, and Nele Hertling. • Saturday, 20 October, 18:00, City Hall: Closing Ceremony: President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Danilo Türk, will give a welcome address; Gerard Mortier will give an exclusive lecture and enter into a discussion with, amongst others, Jonathan Mills, Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, and the young festival managers, who will draw conclusions of the 2012 edition. Furthermore, participants will receive their certificates. First impressions… …can be followed via the Atelier picture gallery. Keep an eye! Latest news can be found at www.atelierforyoungfestivalmanagers.eu. Please contact atelier@efa-aef.eu for further questions.