Contact info
Address
Dr.-Hans-Kapfinger-Str. 20
94032 Passau
Germany
http://www.ew-passau.de
Info
Tel: +49 851 560960
Fax: +49 851 570994
ew@ew-passau.de
http://www.ew-passau.de
Dr. Hans-Kapfinger-Str. 20
D-94032 Passau
Administration
Tel: 0049 - (0)851/560960
Fax: 0049 - (0)851/70994
ew@ew-passau.de
http://www.ew-passau.de
Tickets
Tel: 0049 - (0)851/ 490 831-0
Fax: 0049 - (0)851 / 490 831-20
kartenzentrale@ew-passau.de
http://www.ew-passau.de
Dr.-Hans-Kapfinger-Straße 30
94032 Passau
Press
Tel: 0049 - (0)851/560 960
Fax: 0049 - (0)851/70994
presse@ew-passau.de
Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau e.V.
Apart from the Saar Music Festival, the „Festspiele europäische wochen Passau“ is the only festival in Germany and in Europe that takes place in three European states (Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic). It’s the only festival devoted to a new topic every year with such a wide diversity of artistic disciplines (opera, oratorios, choral and solo concerts, song recitals, theatre, readings, films, lectures and exhibitions). Its goal is to provide a stage both for internationally renowned artists and for regional and local celebrities.
This festival has been an EFA member since 1999.
Festival Programme
Each EFA member manages its own Calendar. In case there is no programme availabable for this year, please visit the festival's own website.
History
The European Weeks Festival was established by American officers in conjunction with the city of Passau in 1952 . Since its inception, the festival has been held annually from the middle of June to the end of July. Dr Pankraz Baron von Freyberg has been artistic director since 1995.
Since 1999 the Festival has been a member of the European Festivals Association. Since obtaining the distinction of membership in this association, the European Weeks Festival has joined the select band of the 84 most important European Festivals, whose members include the Salzburg Festival, the Berlin Festival, the Bayreuth Festival, the Munich Opera Festival, the Summer Concerts between Danube and Altmühl, the Edinburgh Festival, the Gstaad Music Summer, the BBC Proms in London, the Festival of the Arena di Verona and the Bregenz Festival.
The European Weeks Festival is the first festival in post-war Germany to devote itself to the idea of Europe, i.e. to pursue not only cultural but also political goals. It realizes the idea of a festival region, i.e. a festival which instead of taking place in one location includes an entire region in which events are held. Today the festival has about 20 locations over an area of about 120 x 70 km ( = 8,400 sq. kms). Events are held in the rural districts of Passau, Deggendorf, Freyung-Grafenau and Regen (Lower Bavaria), in the districts of Schärding and Grieskirchen (Upper Austria) and in the rural districts of Budweis (Budejovice) and Krumau (Krumlov).
The festival is supported by an association of the same name with over 250 members. Its permanent sponsors include not only the state but also a circle of friends with over 250 members. It has systematically built up cooperative arrangements with other institutions, for example with the diocese of Passau, local museums and galleries, Passau University, cultural associations, the Academy of Political Education in Tutzing, the print media, especially the Passau Neue Presse, radio and television, especially Bavarian Radio, and with the Passau Tourism Association and the East Bavarian Tourism Association.
The festival under the artistic directorship of Dr Pankraz Baron von Freyberg has almost doubled the number of visitors and the overall budget in the space of four years. The total number of visitors to paying and non-paying events in 1999 was 27.634. Furhtermore it has increased the number of sponsors by 970% to 107 in four years. In the same period, sponsorship income rose by 695%.
Finally, the festival can count on a very small but very effective staff (5 permanent employees in the office throughout the year. During the festival itself a further 20 technical assistants and 2 cashiers are employed.
