60 Years On: Bridging Past, Present and Future

PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 27 August 2012

60 Years On: bridging past, present and future

The European Festivals Association (EFA) releases Jubilee publication and film

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the European Festivals Association (EFA) the festival network released its Jubilee publication and first film entitled “60 Years On: Festivals and the World”.

“The ‘European Festivals Association: 60 Years On!’ is a book about EFA and its 60 years as a network for solidarity, growth, diversity, artistic endeavour – and for people; a book about Europe in times of transitions and enlargement; a Europe in the process of re-invention, integration and the creation of Europe as cultural project; a book about the nature of cultural networks and their mission, their added value, their projects and what they mean to their members. And, of course, a book about festivals as platforms for artistic creation and social actions deeply rooted in society,” says EFA President Darko Brlek.

Eminent festival directors speak about what EFA has meant, means now and can mean for citizens, Europe and the world. They share their personal experiences and what they see as EFA’s continuing contribution to cultural Europe. 30 authors – partners from sister networks, insiders, friends and supporters – from across the globe present their visions for 60 years on: Franco Bianchini, Jan Briers, Darko Brlek, Hugo De Greef, Frans de Ruiter, Kathrin Deventer, Jelle Dierickx, Bernard Foccroulle, Enrique Gamez, Ching-Lee Goh, Marie Gouy, Gavin Henderson, Henk Heuvelmans, Peter Inkei, Nora Joumblatt, Gintautas Kevisas, Tamás Klenjánszky, Salvatore Marra, Manuel Martin, Christopher Maughan, Jonathan Mills, Piñeiro Nagy, Dusan Sidjanski, Jacqueline Steels, Galin Stoev, Ary Sutedja, Yossi Tal-Gan, Daniël Termont, Mike Van Graan and Biljana Zdravkovic. The Jubilee publication is available on the EFA eShop at www.efa-aef.eu/en/activities/shop.

Being at once insightful, atmospheric and informative, the first EFA film “60 Years On” captures the mosaic of festivals and activities which characterise the Association. It features statements of Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council; José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission; Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Sport, Media and Youth; and Doris Pack, Chair of the Culture Committee of the European Parliament; as well as Darko Brlek, EFA President, Artistic and General Director of the Ljubljana Festival; Frans de Ruiter, Director Conservatory The Hague, President of the European House for Culture, former EFA President; Hugo De Greef, Co-Founder of the European House for Culture, former EFA Secretary General; Yossi Tal-Gan, Director of the Israel Festival, Jerusalem; Premil Petrovic, Conductor; Tamás Klenjánszky, former EFA Secretary General; Robyn Archer, Creative Director of the Centenary of Canberra (2013), Artist; and Kathrin Deventer, EFA Secretary General.

The statements are accompanied by compositions of Ennio Morricone and André Feldhaus. Italian composer Morricone wrote “Notturno - Passacaglia”, dedicated to clarinettist Darko Brlek and flautist Massimo Mercelli, on the occasion of EFA’s 60th anniversary. It is performed in 2012 at the Emilia Romagna Festival, the Vilnius Festival and in Mexico City with the University Orchestra. It was recorded for EFA’s film with I Solisti di Perugia.

The film was realised by Editor-in-Chief Nadin Deventer and Editor Oliver Taranczewski. It is available for download with subtitles in several languages (English, French, German, Italian, and soon more) on the EFA Jubilee website and the EFA YouTube Channel.

During the EFA Jubilee Gala from 23-25 May 2012 in Bergen, Norway, both publication and film were presented to 180 representatives of festivals, sister festival associations, cultural networks, policy and media from 46 countries and regions of the world attending the EFA Jubilee, hosted and co-organised by the Bergen International Festival.


Contact:
Juliane Reissig
Communication Manager
European Festivals Association
Kleine Gentstraat 46
9051 Ghent/Belgium
T +32 9 241 8080 / F +32 9 241 8089
Juliane@efa-aef.eu / www.efa-aef.eu

The European Festivals Association is the umbrella organisation for festivals across Europe and beyond. One of the oldest cultural networks in Europe, it was founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1952 as a joint initiative of the eminent conductor Igor Markevitch and the great philosopher Denis de Rougemont. Since its foundation, the Association has grown from 15 festivals into a dynamic network representing 111 music, dance, theatre and multidisciplinary festivals, national festival associations and cultural organisations from 42 countries.

The media partner of the EFA Jubilee is euro|topics. EFA thanks its structural partners for their support: the European Commission, the National Lottery Belgium, the Flemish Authorities and the City of Ghent.

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