Robyn Archer joined the team of presenters of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Varna (2009), Singapore (May 2011), Izmir (October 2011), and will now participate, for the fourth time, in the Ljubljana. “The Atelier continues to grow, and deserves strong support: it’s a truism to say that young people hold the keys to the future (...). But rapidly changing global demographics and shifting parameters of mobility demand that those, like the mentors in this programme, who have been so fortunate in their careers, address issues of succession and intergenerational change in an open and direct way. We can do this very effectively through the Atelier. All of us, one way or another, are involved in mentorship in our own countries, in informal ways and as an adjunct to our professional structures; but the Atelier is special,” stated Robyn Archer during the Opening Ceremony of the IZMIR 2011 in an inspiring speech. Robyn Archer AO is a singer, writer, artistic director and public advocate of the arts. She is currently Creative Director of the Centenary of Canberra (2013), and Artistic Director of The Light in Winter (which she created for Federation Square, Melbourne). She has just been appointed Deputy Chair of the Australia Council (the Australian Government’s arts advisory and arts grants organization) and is also serving on committees for the Centenary of ANZAC. Robyn is still singing and her concerts in 2011 included Augsburg (birthplace of Bertolt Brecht in whose work she specialises), at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival for the last three years, Canberra and Sydney. Robyn is the former artistic director of The National Festival of Australian Theatre, the Adelaide and Melbourne Festivals, and Ten Days on the Island which she created for Tasmania. She mentors and advises a wide range of younger artists, and has taken part in the European Festivals Association’s Ateliers in Varna, Singapore and Izmir. Her most recent public speeches are published under the title Detritus (UWA Press) and in 2012 she gave a nationally broadcast National Press Club address. In October 2012 she delivers the Memorial Arthur Boyd Lecture in London. She devised the program for the 5th World Summit on Arts and Culture (Melbourne, October 2011). Robyn Archer is patron of numerous arts organisations across Australia, and has been awarded throughout the world for her contribution to the arts. She is an Officer of the Order of Australia, Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France), Officer of the Crown (Belgium) and holds honorary doctorates from Flinders University (SA), and the Universities of Sydney and Canberra. More details can be found at the depArcher lounge. 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. (Photo: © Heide Smith)