News

2009 EFA General Assembly and Conference explores Artistic Trends in Festivals

11 May 2009

The European Festivals Association (EFA) is holding its 2009 General Assembly and Conference from 13-16 May in Vilnius/Lithuania. Hosted by the Vilnius Festival, this year’s annual meeting forms official part of Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009. On the agenda: discussions on “Artistic Trends in Festivals”, the launch of EFA BOOKS 4 “DIALOGUE”, as well as the election of the EFA President. The EFA Conference brings together 106 festivals from 35 countries and 155 delegates to meet, network and exchange, and discuss the state of play of the festival business today. During the one-day conference on 14 May, representatives of music, dance and theatre festivals, local authorities, sponsors, artists and the media will explore questions such as ‘What are the trends in festivals today? Who sets the trends? Are festivals the trendsetters of our creative ecology of today?’ A keynote speech by Michael Tydén, Festival Manager of the Baltic Sea Festival, and a stimulating round table with the contribution of festival directors from four continents invite for stimulating discussions. As a concluding highlight, Mr. Gintautas Babravičiaus, Vice-mayor of Vilnius City responsible for Vilnius ECOC programme, will award present festivals with the FestLabPassport, recognising festivals’ innovative and creative work in the framework of the EFA FestLab for Creativity and Innovation. The FestLab is an initiative taken at the occasion of the 2009 European Year of Creativity and Innovation and will travel across Europe and the world. Another remarkable achievement brought to Vilnius: EFA BOOKS 4 “Dialogue. Festivals Act for an Intercultural Society” including its authors. In the follow-up of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, “Dialogue” shows the immense potential of festivals to move borders and remove barriers. It is an inspiring collection of articles, interviews and discussions with contributions by Hortense Archambault (Avignon), Per Boye Hansen (Bergen), Joachim Sartorius (Berlin), Enrique Gámez Ortega (Granada), Yeşim Gürer Oymak (Istanbul), Yossi Tal-Gan (Jersualem), Ibrahim Spahić (Sarajevo), Commission Director General Odile Quintin and EFA Secretary General Kathrin Deventer. The official opening of the EFA General Assembly and Conference – also opening of the Vilnius Festival - takes place on 13 May at the Lithuanian National Opera, followed by a performance of the London Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Valery Gergiev. On 15 May, the formal General Assembly will see the election of the EFA President. Results of the three day gathering can be followed on the EFA website: www.efa-eaf.eu. Download the press release in English, French and German. Contact: Juliane Reissig, Communication and Project Assistant European Festivals Association Kleine Genttraat 46 9051 Ghent/Belgium T +32 9 241 8080 F +32 9 241 8089 Juliane@efa-aef.eu www.efa-aef.eu Related documents: • Conference OutlineConference Programme