Shanghai is the city hosting the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, also known as ChinaSPAF. The festival celebrated its 23rd edition this year from 18 till 21 October 2024, together with many Chinese and international delegates, including EFA Members.

ChinaSPAF is part of the big cultural events, and is the leading performing arts marketplace to present new works from China, connecting creators and arts professionals worldwide. The edition 2024 gathered 500 delegates from more than 40 countries under the theme "Connect, Consensus, Opportunity".

I had the chance to accompany the EFA delegation attending this event: 15 EFA Members festivals, representing the richness and diversity of festivals in terms of countries and artistic disciplines, including Edinburgh International Festival, Athens Epidaurus Festival, Ljubljana Festival, Manchester International Festival, Valley of Arts, Usedom Music Festival, Vilnius Festival, Gdansk Shakespeare Festival, Spoleto Festival Dei Due Mondi, ArtLink Festival, Serbian Festivals Association, Finland Festivals, Federation of Festivals in Flanders, and Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation.

Festivals are places of encounters: During 4 days, the Forum taking place in parallel sought to present the local art scene, actors and artists and international projects through inspiring interventions or short pitches. Topics addressed ranged from the role of creators and producers, digital culture and tourism, theatre for young audiences, the Asia-Pacific performing arts industry, etc. ChinaSPAF aims to facilitate discussions on new ideas of collaboration from a global perspective and promote cross-continental networking and exchanges on programming, co-productions, and talent development.

Going to China, and Shanghai in particular, for the first time is an adventure. Chinese culture is very different from the other countries I've visited so far. The city is huge, with over 25 million inhabitants. Traffic jams can hold you up for hours before you reach your destination. In terms of technology, China doesn't use the same applications. The fact that I don't speak Mandarin and that very few Chinese speak English makes communication more complicated. Anything that seems easy at first glance can become a little more complicated if you're not prepared. But once you accept that everything takes longer, that last-minute changes are not a major problem and that you take this into account in your planning, you'll see that you will make your way. The Chinese are very friendly and will always do their best to help you find back your path.

The event has just concluded and I started reflecting while waiting at the airport to take my flight back home, destination Brussels. It’s always strange to be alone after these big events and I do often feel many emotions: nostalgia, excitement, regrets. Nostalgia of leaving the many people I’ve met from far-away continents, but also from Europe, and the new friends I made along the way. Excitement about all the possible connections that can be made with EFA, the different projects we run, our members, the larger festivals community, etc. Regrets of all the connections, I didn’t manage to make. These events are so busy and the programme is always packed: keynotes, sessions, artistic programme, etc. Time runs so fast, that you are actually not even really able to visit the city, even if this is not the first purpose of these trips. So Shanghai, I hope to see you next year!

by Audrey Brisack