At the occasion of the European Festivals Association’s annual collective and associated members meeting held in Ubeda from 28-30 January 2009, EFA and 15 national festivals associations and networks launched a statement expressing their appreciation of the excellent work and importance of FestClásica, the Spanish Association of Classical Music Festivals. Joint Statement of the European Festivals Association and 15 National Festival Associations and Networks The European Festivals Association (EFA), the representative network of arts festivals in Europe and beyond, jointly with 15 national festivals associations and networks that represent altogether 1500 arts and cultural festivals from 37 different countries, express their appreciation of the excellent work and importance of FestClásica, the Spanish Association of Classical Music Festivals. At the occasion of EFA’s annual collective and associated members meeting held in Ubeda from 28-30 January 2009 hosted by FestClásica (constituted in 2007), festivals highlight the importance of arts and culture in society, the role that Spanish festivals play in promoting intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity, innovation and creativity as well as the contribution of FestClásica as one of the outstanding examples of Associations that give an enormous added value to the cultural landscape in Spain and in Europe. Following the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008, the Mayor of Ubeda Mr Marcelino Sánchez, General Director of Arts and Music of the Cultural Ministry Mr Juan Carlos Marset, Darko Brlek, President of European Festivals Association, and Luis Lopez de Lamadrid, President of the Spanish Association of Classical Music Festivals, signed the Arts Festivals’ Declaration on Intercultural Dialogue. At the same time, all festivals and festival associations confirmed their engagement in promoting festivals as laboratories for creativity and promoters of innovation, at the occasion of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation celebrated in Europe in 2009. Signed by: • European Festivals Association • Association of Irish Festival Events (AOIFE) • British Arts Festivals Association (BAFA) • Czech Association of Music Festivals • Estonian Music Festivals • Federation of Music Festivals in Flanders (FMiV) • Finland Festivals (FF) • France Festivals • ItaliaFestival (IF) • Norway Festivals • Swedish Music Festivals • European Conference of Promoters of New Music (ECPNM) Download the Statement: • In English • In Spanish