The European Festivals Association (EFA) will dedicate a festive ceremony to its Arts Festivals’ Declaration on Intercultural Dialogue – to look back and reflect on the achievements and to look ahead and share its vision on the perspectives. On the occasion of the official closing conference "New Perspectives for Intercultural Dialogue in Europe", organised by the French EU Presidency and the European Commission awaiting more than 600 participants from across Europe and beyond, EFA will – together with 20 major festival directors from all over Europe and European Commissioner Ján Figel’ – launch a statement of festivals’ future commitment to intercultural dialogue. EFA is adding an "Epilogue" to its Declaration – "an epilogue to more dialogue," as Kathrin Deventer, EFA Secretary General, describes the new piece of text, hinting at the important role festivals will play also beyond the official conclusion of the European Year. On 17 November 2008 in Paris, festivals from Avignon, Berlin, Brno, Edinburgh, Emilia Romagna, l'Epau, Estoril, France Festivals, Granada, Ljubljana, Reykjavik, Rheingau, Santander, Sarajevo, Festivals in Transition, Trondheim, Vilnius and Flanders will confirm – on behalf of hundreds of signatory colleague festivals – to "act as powerful messengers for a peaceful and free exchange among people and the respect for cultural diversity also beyond 2008" (abstract from the Epilogue to the Declaration). Jointly with Mr Figel’ the European Festivals Association will be rewarded for its achievements regarding intercultural dialogue. EFA would like to use this special moment to share the main achievements of this unique project: The Arts Festivals’ Declaration on Intercultural Dialogue was born as… … a manifesto that engages all sorts of arts and cultural festivals into intercultural dialogue. Throughout 2008, festivals in Europe and all over the world joined forces and highlighted the outstanding excellence of arts and culture and, in particular, festivals for developing and promoting intercultural dialogue. The Declaration aims… • to unite arts and culture festivals of all kinds to engage in intercultural dialogue; • to highlight the excellence of festivals in developing and promoting intercultural dialogue; • to increase the circle of festivals, national associations and cultural networks explicitly engaged in intercultural dialogue sharing experiences and best practices; • to pave the way for a closer collaboration on a local level among festivals, with all kinds of partners as well as across all kinds of borders, and; • to raise awareness among European citizens of the importance of enhancing dialogue amongst cultures in a global society. The Declaration traveled the world… The Arts Festivals’ Declaration on Intercultural Dialogue is an initiative taken at the occasion of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (EYID). It was launched on 8 January 2008 in the framework of the opening conference for the EYID under the Slovene EU Presidency in Ljubljana: 25 festivals and officials from 17 European countries signed the Declaration and committed to its objectives and obligations, including European Commissioner Mr Jan Figel’. The Declaration was made available in 25 languages. Taking off in Ljubljana, the Declaration traveled around the world, with signing ceremonies organised in Tallinn, Oslo, Antalya, Brezice, Ghent and Liverpool. All in all almost 1000 festivals - from more than 40 countries and 4 continents – committed to the Declaration’s objectives. A newsletter entitled "FestFlash on Intercultural Dialogue" highlighted exceptional cases of festivals celebrating intercultural dialogue (read the editions that have been sent out widely so far: No 1, No 2 and No 3). Throughout the Year, EFA was working closely with the European Commission and Culture Commissioner Ján Figel’. The Arts Festivals’ Declaration featured on the EU website dedicated to intercultural dialogue, where EFA had its own niche to present latest developments. "This success would have been impossible without the support of all festivals who signed the Declaration, of the European Commission, Mr Figel’ and each European citizen who visited our festivals this year to celebrate intercultural dialogue with us," concludes EFA President Darko Brlek. "Our common objectives truly unite us in our diversity." Related documents: • Arts Festivals’ Declaration on Intercultural Dialogue • original signing book as signed in Ljubljana, 8 January 2008 • Epilogue • Press release (Paris, 17 November)