EFFE stands for Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe and is an initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA) co-financed by the European Union. On 5 December the call for applications for the EFFE Label 2017-2018 is launched. The EFFE Label is a quality label for festivals offering international recognition for festivals’ excellence in their daily work all across Europe. EFA, in close partnership with 28 EFFE Hubs - the programme’s contact points all over Europe, aims with EFFE to connect festivals that are deeply committed to the arts and their communities in a globalising world and offer a one-stop-gate to Europe’s rich festival landscape for citizens worldwide. The first edition of the EFFE Label and Award 2015-2016 counted 761 festivals from 31 countries receiving the EFFE Label and 12 of the most trend-setting European festivals receiving an EFFE Award. Have a look at www.effe.eu and browse through Europe’s rich artistic offer!

From 5 December 2016 until 17 February 2017, festivals have the chance to apply for the EFFE Label 2017-2018. Experts across Europe assess applications to determine if festivals meet the three criteria - artistic commitment and innovative approaches, involvement in their local communities and a European and global outlook. In addition to the Label, an international jury will give EFFE Awards to the most trend-setting festivals. The International Festival Jury will be composed of high-level and diverse jurors representing key stakeholders in the festival sector.

The EFFE Label and Award winners benefit from the recognition for their work and values, increased visibility (website and EFFE Guide), new networking opportunities both face-to-face and online and further involvement in the artistic community. In May 2017 the EFFE Labels will be announced officially at the EFFE Label Meet-up (more details soon).

EFA believes that it is an important advantage for Europe’s festivals to be recognised by their peers and the European Union for their outstanding artistic quality and community involvement. The initiative invites artists, directors, managers and audiences worldwide to discover Europe’s very best, most creative festivals in a festival journey through Europe’s diversity.

All information on EFFE and how to apply can be found at here.