The first "Nordic-Baltic Festival Meeting" took place from 5-7 October in Reykjavik/Iceland at Harpa, Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre. 45 delegates from ten Nordic and Baltic countries hosting more than 900 festivals agreed on conclusions underlining the important role of festivals in societal developments and released a statement of support for the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. The European Festivals Association (EFA) strongly supports these moves. Signed by Peter Eriksson, President of Swedish Music Festivals, on behalf of all participants, the conclusions of the Nordic Baltic Festival conference in Harpa, Reykjavík on 6 October 2011 state: “The festival form is especially well suited to communicate artistic and cultural experience, being a uniquely creative way of reaching different audiences of all ages. This conference concludes that culture and the arts hold fundamental social and economic value in our respective countries. They deserve to be given greater attention and higher priority in the making of political decisions.” Furthermore, participants released a statement of support for the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra: “We, directors of art festivals in the Nordic and Baltic countries, underline the importance of and strongly support the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, now that the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre has finally opened. It has never been more essential to strengthen the already vibrant musical life of Iceland and to secure its future.” The conference was the first of its kind. It aimed to strengthen ties and investigate further co-operation between festivals as well as being educative and informative.