The European Festivals Association (EFA) informs about its session in the framework of the EU Forum on “Building together a society for all”, from 9:30-11:00 at the Halles de Schaerbeek. EFA aims to bring together artists; festival directors; members of EU Platform “Access to Culture”, networks from the cultural and other sectors to discuss the role of festivals in societal developments: How can festivals rooted in a city, a region today implement their core artistic responsibility and open doors to artists to dare, to take risk and sometimes to fail? How can they cope with this responsibility when policies want them to fulfill other agendas like social or economic ones? In how far can festivals increase access to creation and access to participation? How do festivals trigger a reflection of a variety of actors on the development of an inclusive society? Participants are invited to share their best practices and opinions on obstacles encountered as festival organisers or as artists. Together they will reflect upon the questions: which role for festivals and for public authorities in this scenario? Furthermore, EFA presents the findings of a series of conversations in the frame of the EFA project “Open The Door” (www.Open-The-Door.eu). A first set of recommendations on how to remove barriers to access for artists and for audiences are discussed. The trans-sectorial EU Forum is a platform for participants to engage in a dialogue with policy, business and social representatives invited for this EU conference of the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion organised by the European Commission. Around 500 conference participants are expected. Let’s open minds together! Follow this space regularly for more information! Related links and documents: • EU Forum • Belgian EU Presidency Seminar “The contribution of culture in combating poverty and social exclusion” • “Open The Door” • European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion