Michał Merczyński is the director of the National Audiovisual Institute (NInA) in Warsaw. He joined the team of presenters of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers for the first time in IZMIR 2011 and now for the second time in Ljubljana. “Co-production is a risk but it is the most fruitful way to produce new pieces,” stated Michał Merczyński during the Atelier IZMIR 2011. Michał Merczyński is a culture animator, producer, art manager and director of many cultural institutions and festivals including: the Polish Film Institute, Rozmaitości Theatre, Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society and Tzadik Poznań Festival, the Nostalgia Festival and the Festival of Dialogue of Four Cultures. He is an expert within the European Union Culture Programme 2007-2013. He has been a director of the MALTA International Theatre Festival since 1991. Since 2005, he has been the director of the National Audiovisual Institute (NInA), an institution created by the Ministry of Culture in Poland. In 2011, he was the head of the Cultural Programme of the Polish EU Presidency, as well as the European Culture Congress. Eight 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), 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.