Let's talk business - Arts Festivals Summit 2023
EFA was born out of a group of fifteen festival directors who treated the crème de la crème of the arts in the middle of the 20th century in the most business-like, that is to say, the most professional way. This symbiosis of the arts and business has been a fundamental feature of festivals in Europe ever since. The right degree and nature of the correlation between the two sides – between art and business – have been the secret of the most successful festivals in the past 70 years.
Monday, 24 April 2023 | 10.00-13.30
Peralada Castle - Square del Carme, s/n - 17491 Peralada
Beyond and through their primary function of bringing art to the public, festivals generate a multitude of “outputs”. Firstly, they please the organisers, funders, and all stakeholders by returning what has been invested – and some more if things go normally. In our increasingly sophisticated world, festivals’ externalities or additional effects keep diversifying. Festivals’ impact on well-being and health, urban development and city branding, social cohesion and equity, jobs and taxes have been more and more acknowledged, just to name a few.
And – festivals imply ‘busyness’, in the original sense of the word. They bring vitality to the place. Dynamism, drive and good vibes. Businesses are also ‘busy’ by definition – to what end? To deliver profit? Money in the first place? Respect and contentment, too?
As the arts, in reverse order. Contentment – fulfilment in terms of artistic excellence – is the primary purpose of the arts. Excellence breeds respect. Financial gains are a bonus? The contentment that business and the arts aspire to seem to share common grounds, characteristic of the era. Today, ‘sustainability’, ‘inclusion’, and ’equity’ seem to come into focus as well.
Are business and arts inverted twins? They seem to evolve side by side and learn from each other. Business and arts handle their environment – their markets – not entirely differently. Sometimes quite similarly. Ranging from the competitive to the inclusive. With the boundaries and definitions of market (and marketing) ever changing.
How do business and the arts co-exist in today’s Europe and the world? How to define today’s market? What is ‘good’ business? (And ‘poor’ art?) Where do goals and means meet to build a successful and peaceful Europe as a citizens’ project?
Let's talk business, let's get to the point!
All these questions will be adressed during these 3 times 1 hour of conversation, facilitated by Cristina Farinha and Horacio Pérez.
#1 Building the market: accessible, inclusive and fair(trade)
SPEAKERS
- Joris Janssens, Expert Arts and Culture, IDEA Consult, research and strategic development projects and public policy advise, in Flanders and abroad.
- Zvonimir Dobrovic, Founder and artistic director of Domino, major independent art NGOs in Croatia. Artistic Director of several festivals in Croatia and internationally: Perforations Festival, Queer Zagreb Festival and Queer New York international art Festival. Owner of Ginger Sushi Zagreb restaurant.
- Ignasi Miró Borràs, Corporate Director of Culture and Science at La Caixa.
Kick-off statement : Thobile Maphanga, UKZN's Centre for Creative Arts
#2 New understanding of our business: impact, success & sustainability
SPEAKERS
- Vera Wrana, Head of international and institutional relations of Last Tour, cultural manager.
- Chris Baldwin, Performance director, curator, writer. Manager and artistic director of CCD Productions. Artistic Director for the Opening Weekend for 2023 Eleusis (European Capital of Culture, Greece). Cultural Coordinator for Piran4Istria2025 (Slovenia).
- Natália Oszkó-Jakab, Director of the Valley of Arts Festival and Startup Safari Budapest
Kick-off statement :
James McVeigh, Festivals Edinburgh
#3 Building societies: Inclusive and well? Who, what for, how and for whom?
SPEAKERS
- Rarita Zbranca, Director and cofounder of AltArt Foundation. Programme Director at Cluj Cultural Centre and co-founder of Fabrica de Pensule an independent collective space for contemporary arts in Cluj-Napoca.
- Michelle McLeod, Creator and manager of the sponsorship programme at Baillie Gifford United Kingdom.
- Jordi Albareda, Founder and CEO of Fair Saturday Foundation.
Kick-off statement: Rūta Prusevičienė, Vilnius Festival
