The EFA Jubilee is organised by:

European Festivals Association

The European Festivals Association (EFA) is the oldest cultural network in Europe. It was founded in Geneva in 1952 upon the joint initiative of conductor Igor Markewitch and philosopher Denis de Rougemont. Since its foundation, the Association has grown from 15 festivals into a dynamic network representing more than 100 music, dance, theatre and multidisciplinary festivals, national festival associations and cultural organisations from about 40 (mainly European) countries.

Bergen International Festival

The Bergen International Festival presents art in all its guises: music, theatre, dance, opera and visual art. The Bergen International Festival is the largest of its kind in the Nordic countries, with more than 150 events in 15 days. Established in 1953, the festival's 60th edition takes place in 2012. Per Boye Hansen has been the festival's Artistic and Managing Director since August 2005.

Media partner of the EFA Jubilee:

euro|topics

Diversity and uniformity are just as evident in Europe's headlines as they are in Europe itself. The euro|topics press review shows you which topics are moving Europeans and reflects the great variety of opinions, ideas and emotions on those issues. Whether the topic is politics, the economy, society or culture, euro|topics takes a daily look at the European press and cites the most important voices. Because the question that interests us is: What does Europe think?

The sessions of the EFA Jubilee Conference are co-produced by:

The European House for Culture

The European House for Culture is a cultural organisation initiated by the European Festivals Association (EFA). The mission of the European House for Culture (EHfC) is twofold: to be a House of Welcome – a meeting and working place for networks and initiatives which relate to the cultural sector. Secondly, the House aims to give the cultural sector in Europe a visible space in order to facilitate a stronger voice of the cultural sector in the European decision-making process.

A Soul for Europe

A Soul for Europe (ASfE), a civil society initiative which aims to deliver the strong message that Europe is first and foremost a project of Europeans, made by Europeans, understood best through the capacity of culture! Gathering in its Strategy Group young professionals from 21 different countries it’s the ini¬tiative’s firm belief that it’s our duty as individuals to engage on an active citizenship. The European parliamentarian working group ASfE is the bridge between the initiative’s projects and the European level decision makers.

Access to Culture Platform

The Access to Culture Platform was created under the European Agenda for Culture (2007). It is a civil society platform composed of cultural organisations representing diverse arts, that advocates for Culture as a fundamental right of all citizens. A platform that formulates priorities for action to place Access to Culture in a key position in all policy areas at local, regional, national and EU level. A promoter of the legal framework of Access to Culture and nine recommendations developed in the Policy Guidelines of the Access to Culture Platform.

The EFA Jubilee Conference is co-organised by:

EFA 60 Years On Sounding Board

Having started its work already in 2011, the Sounding Board is playing an important role in the development of EFA’s anniversary activities. Persons invited to take part are:

• Henrik Adler
• Airan Berg, Mannheim 2020
• Jan Briers, Flanders Festival
• Darko Brlek, Festival Ljubljana
• Jurriaan Cooiman, CULTURESCAPES
• Hugo De Greef, Flemish Government, European House for Culture
• Jelle Dierickx, Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci, Rotterdam Philharmonic Gergiev Festival
• David Dittrich, Concentus Moraviae International Music Festival of 13 towns
• Enrique Gamez, Festival Internacional De Música Y Danza De Granada
• Per Boye Hansen, Bergen International Festival
• Henk  Heuvelmans, ECPNM
• Martin Honzik, Ars Electronica Festival
• Andrzej Kosendiak, International Festival Wratislavia Cantans
• Evelyn Meining, Rheigau Musik Festival
• Massimo Mercelli, Emilia Romagna Festival
• Jonathan Mills, Edinburgh International Festival
• Pineiro Nagy, Estoril Festival
• José Luis Ocejo, Festival Internacional de Santander
• Ruta Pruseviciene, Vilnius Festival
• Ibrahim Spahic, Sarajevo Winter Festival
• Hendrik Storme, KlaraFestival
• Piotr Turkiewicz, International Festival Wratislavia Cantans
• Mike van Graan, Arterial Network
• Biljana Zdravković, Belgrade Music Festival

EFA Working Group “Communicating Festivals - Communicating Europe”

The Working Group “Communicating Festivals - Communicating Europe” brings together Communication, PR and Marketing Experts of major European festivals. Currently, the Working Group focuses on the use of digital and social media in festivals. A blog “Festival Bytes” has been launched. The following festivals and organisations are actively involved:

• Belgrade Music Festival
• Berliner Festspiele
• Edinburgh International Festival
• Flanders Festival Gent and Brussels
• Festival Ljubljana
• BBC Proms
• International Festival Wratislavia Cantans
• Music Biennale Zagreb
• Association of Irish Festival Events
• Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV)
• Festivals Edinburgh

The EFA Strategy Group:

• Simon Mundy
• Valeria Marcolin
• Nadin Deventer