The Atelier for Young Festival Managers was launched by the European Festivals Association (EFA) in 2006, when Hugo De Greef was the Association’s Secretary General (from 2004 to 2008). Today, he is the General Coordinator of the Atelier, amongst other functions in the cultural sector, both in Belgium and internationally. “The Atelier is about formulating experiences and how to hand over these experiences to the next generation of festival makers, focusing thematically on the very essence of festivals: the artistic production,” states Hugo De Greef. To mention just a few highlights in what has been a distinguished career in the cultural sector, Hugo De Greef was the Founder of the Kaaitheater in Brussels in 1977, and has been its General Manager for 20 years. He was the General Manager of BRUGGE 2002, European Capital of Culture. Hugo De Greef was a Co-founder of IETM (Informal European Theatre Meeting), of the Felix Meritis Foundation in Amsterdam, of the Flemish Theatre monthly ‘ETCETERA’, of the international publication ‘THEATERSCHRIFT’, of the Philosophy Festival and of the European House for Culture in Brussels. His international activities include, amongst others: co-productions with Flemish/Belgian, European and American artists, organisation of the ‘Flemish Arts’ presentation during the Expo in Lisbon in 1998, member of the advisory board for ‘Theaterformen’ festival in Hannover for the Expo in 2000, initiator for the ‘New Europe’ festival in New York in October 1999. Furthermore, Hugo De Greef was General Manager of the Flagey Arts Centre in Brussels from 2007 until June 2010, the Artistic Advisor of the Flanders Festival in 1998/1999, and the Art Director for BRUSSELS 2000 (January-May 1998). Since January 2003, he has been the President of PARTS, a dance school in Brussels founded by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. Currently, Hugo De Greef is the Advisor for International Cultural Policy towards the Minister of Culture in Flanders, Board member of ‘A Soul for Europe’, of the European House for Culture and of the Felix Meritis Foundation. For now, nine renowned festival managers from all over the world will guide the participants throughout the seven days of the Atelier LJUBLJANA 2012 under the coordination of Hugo De Greef (Belgium): Robyn Archer (Australia), Bernard Faivre d’Arcier (France), Rose Fenton (United Kingdom), Nele Hertling (Germany), Michal Merzcyński (Poland), Jonathan Mills (United Kingdom), Gerard Mortier (Belgium) and Fruzsina Szép (Hungary). In the run-up of the Atelier, all presenters will be introduced. Keep an eye! More info on the Atelier LJUBLJANA 2012 on the Atelier website.