News

EFA 60 Years On: EFA celebrates its Diamond Jubilee in 2012

8 March 2012

In 2012, the European Festivals Association (EFA) celebrates the 60th anniversary of its foundation. Under the motto “60 Years On: Festivals and the World”, the festival network is setting up a broad range of activities. Throughout the year, EFA will join forces with hundreds of festivals and its partners around the world to celebrate, commemorate and in particular reflect on the present and future of arts festivals. The European Festivals Association is the oldest cultural network in Europe; it was founded in Geneva/Switzerland in 1952 by philosopher Denis de Rougemont and composer Igor Markevitch. “The Association will enable us to create a real European community, a united Europe. A common cultural basis means no uniformity, though, it is a unity of diversity and this principle allows European culture to engage in a fruitful dialogue with other cultures,” said Denis de Rougemont. 60 years of networking and connecting festivals deserves celebration – and also a moment to stand still and take stock: • 60 years of synergy; bringing together festival leaders, artists, emerging festival managers, experts, researchers and politicians from very diverse regions, countries and continents. • 60 years of growth, from 15 founding members to 111 festivals today – and with more and more festivals worldwide emerging and wanting to be part of EFA’s dynamic activity. • 60 years of active participation, artistic co-operation, professional development and action for the arts. • 60 years in which Europe, the world and the arts have changed dramatically. “Together with our 111 members – individual festivals, national festival associations and cultural networks – from 40 countries, sister organisations, and partners networks from all over the world, we will raise our voice for the arts, for culture and for festivals in Europe and the world,” states EFA President Darko Brlek. A key highlight will be the Jubilee Gala from 23-26 May in Bergen/Norway, co-organised by the Bergen International Festival which also celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2012. The high-level event will welcome around 170 participants, including EFA's founding members, national and international politicians, sister festival networks from Africa, Asia and the Arab world, as well as the press. All details and initiatives set up by the Association and festivals around the world can be found on the Jubilee website (www.efa-aef.eu/efa60). It raises issues at heart of the festival business today, gives information about the Bergen Jubilee Programme, speakers, background texts, films and informs about publications to be released. Together with a blog, “Festival Bytes” (www.festivalbytes.eu), the website is the place for everybody interested to become part of the activities. For more information please contact efa60@efa-aef.eu.