The first edition of the European Festivals Association’s Festival Readings will take place from 11 to 13 June 2013 in Sibiu, Romania during the Sibiu Performing Arts Open Market and as part of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival. The unique 3-day programme consists of public lectures and debates, and introduces participants to artistic festival management. The Festival Readings are a space for discussion embedded into the dynamics of the festival. Participants and distinguished presenters are invited to reflect on festivals’ role in society. The Festival Readings will explore how a festival, taking place in a particular context, can be a special and innovative experience and a platform for the art, artists and audiences alike.

Three lectures

The 2013 Sibiu Festival Readings are co-organised by the European Festivals Association and the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (7 to 16 June 2013), the most significant annual performing arts event in Romania. For the first edition of the Festival Readings, EFA selected three renowned festival leaders who have been collaborating with the Association for many years, for example as presenters at the Atelier for Young Festival Managers.

• Tuesday, 11 June 2013, 15.00 to 18.00: Debate session
  Bernard Faivre d’Arcier (France) is the President of the Biennale de la Danse de Lyon and the former Artistic Director of the Festival d’Avignon. He will explore the question how large-scale festivals can continue to make sharp artistic choices, even for big audiences.
• Wednesday, 12 June 2013, 15.00 to 18.00: Debate session
  Nele Hertling (Germany) is the Vice-Chair of the Academy of Arts Berlin. She will lead the participants through key developments in the festival sector: from the first European Capitals of Culture in the 1980s, the beginning and rise of major dance festivals in Europe, and to the engagement of festivals for a cultural Europe today.
• Thursday, 13 June 2013, 15.00 to 18.00: Debate session
  Hugo De Greef (Belgium) is the General Coordinator of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers, he has initiated several festivals, and he was the General Manager of Bruges European Capital of Culture 2002. He will discuss festivals as places for innovation for the arts, and look at the development of the festival scene worldwide: from the 1970s, when not many festivals existed, followed by a boom of festivals in the past decades, until today.

All three lecturers will be present during all three days and ready to exchange further with participants beyond the debate sessions.

The programme will include cultural performances and meetings with artists and other guests.

The festival partner and the city

Sibiu is a vibrant city that carried the title European Capital of Culture in 2007. The festival is an outstanding opportunity for its expected 60,000 spectators to enjoy more than 350 events with artists from more than 70 countries taking place in 60 venues.

This year, the Sibiu International Theatre Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary. It will be an inspiring context for the Festival Readings and for the participants. Furthermore, the Sibiu International Theatre Festival hosts the Sibiu Performing Arts Open Market, a remarkable possibility for international artists to present and promote their latest productions.

Participation and deadline

Registration deadline: 5 June 2013. Participating at the 2013 Sibiu Festival Readings is free.
Participants of the Sibiu Festival Readings are expected to attend the 3-day programme.
The Festival Readings will take place at the Habitus Cultural Center.

To register for the Sibiu Festival Readings, please send an e-mail (including the following information: name, organisation, contact details, short biography (200 characters)), to Lavinia Alexe at lavinia.alexe@sibfest.ro