Europe is under continual construction. We are part of it: arts and culture play a role in community building.

If we accept that Europe is also a community, and artists, and festivals have a task locally and on the European level to build a feeling of connectivity and joint responsibility, we need to spend time together and make the extra efforts to get to know each other and be aware of the role the arts and us can play together. Let’s speak about us: our offers, our needs, our ideas.

The topic of the arts in the field of individual and societal well-being has been researched vastly in recent times. It has been added to the many reasons why we need the arts (next to their economic impact, their impact on tourism, their impact on growth and jobs etc).

In the framework of the artistic programme of our EFA Member the Varna International Music festival, we invite for three days we spend together: with a series of afternoon workshops run by two facilitators, Mahir Namur and Rarita Zbranca, to connect with each other in a meaningful way and jointly discuss the meaning of the arts and the connection of festival makers around the arts in the wider cultural-political ecosystem.

The European Festivals Association will explore our collective needs and strengths and invite for reflections on the deeper sense of the arts in humanity and in people’s individual and societal lives.

We invite friends to cherish and celebrate: the arts, connectivity, humanity, friendship, good time, food and talks, inspiration and exchange of ideas, dance, sun and free time at the Black Sea, at the generous hospitality of the Varna Summer International Music Festival 2023.

31 AUGUST
Arrival of the participants

1 SEPTEMBER

• 15.30-18.30 – First part of the workshop on well-being in the arts by Rarita Zbranca (Director and Co-founder of AltArt Foundation and Programme Director at Cluj Cultural Centre and co-founder of Fabrica de Pensule) and Mahir Namur (Existential Coach, Lecturer & Trainer, Project Manager).

• 19.00 – Evening concert at the City Gallery

Armonca Stanza
Mariví Blasco, Soprano, Robert Cases, Baroque Guitar,
Miguel Ángel Orero, Percussions, Carina Pabst, Dancer
Programme: Von Lieben und Schätzen /Stücke aus dem spanischen Barock

2 SEPTEMBER

• 15.30-18.30 – Second part of the workshop on well-being in the arts by Rarita Zbranca and Mahir Namur.

• 19.00 – Evening concert at the City Gallery

- Pablo Sarasate – Carmen Fantasy
- Enrique Fernandez Arbós (1863-1939) - Trío En Estilo Español (1885)
- Joaquin Turina (1882- 1949) - Piano Quartet In A Minor, Op.67
- Enrique Granados - Piano Quintet Op.49

3 SEPTEMBER

• 12.00 – Matinée Concert

Luis González Lladó, Piano

• 15.30-18.30 – Final part of the workshop on well-being in the arts by Rarita Zbranca and Mahir Namur.
• 19.00 – Evening concert at the City Gallery

Instrumentale Ensemble von Kantabrien (Spanien) ENSEIC
Dirigent: Esteban Sanz

OPTIONAL:
1 - 3 SEPTEMBER: PROGRAMME INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM (in German)
Every day from 10.00 to 12.30 including musical performances.

The special International Symposium module of the Varna Summer International Music Festival will be held from 1 – 3 September 2023 under the topic "Tradition and Universalism in the Spanish Music. From Baroque to Nowadays" to present Spanish music traditions and contemporary development and dedicated to the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Check the full programme on: varnasummerfest.org

EFA Members are accommodated at the Hotel & Casino Cherno More Varna for a wonderfully preferential rate of 45 Euro per night.

For the ones planning to come with families or that would like to extend their and connect it to some holiday time, we would be happy to facilitate accommodation in one of the beautiful and calm resorts along the Black Sea coast.

Tickets for concerts are offered to you by the Festival.

Food to be covered individually if not part of the programme.