Arts and Politics
Festivals often serve as vibrant cultural platforms, but they also have a powerful role in shaping political dialogue. EFA plays a critical role in gathering the knowledge, questions, and needs from the festivals’ community and translating them into meaningful policy discussions. These efforts bridge the gap between arts, culture, and governance across various levels—from local municipalities to European institutions. By engaging in consultations and direct dialogues, EFA provides EU political institutions with essential insights into the festival sector’s needs and challenges. Through initiatives like the EFFE Seal for Festival Cities and Regions, the Round Table with the EU Commissioner for Culture, the annual Berlin Conference, and other collaborative efforts, festivals are becoming key players in advocating for cultural policies that resonate locally and impactfully influence broader European agendas.
The EFFE Seal for Festival Cities and Regions
The EFFE Seal for Festival Cities and Regions is a recognition and an invitation to cities and regions that wish to associate and integrate their development and image with a strong festival, cultural - and European - commitment.
Festival Cities and Regions
Today, 29 festival cities and regions extend the conversation around festivals and exchange local practices and policies related to festival life with colleagues from all over Europe.
Trajectory of the Festival Cities Initiative and the EFFE Seal for Festival Cities and Regions
Take5*
Take5* is a filmed series of encounters between 5 artists and 2 guests who meet for the first time in a specific city to speak about Europe, festivals, the arts and their role in society.
A Soul for Europe
Twenty years after the first Berlin Conference in 2004, when the initiative A Soul for Europe was initiated, we are more than ever convinced of the importance of exploring and embracing the innovative approaches of arts and culture for the European project together. With the past 20 years as a reference and asset, there is a need to nurture a collective vision for the future by listening to the diverse individual narratives and experiences of decision makers and artistically and culturally driven actors from different parts of Europe.
Berlin Conference
20 years Berlin Conference : EUROPE - A Cultural Project
The Stiftung Zukunft Berlin, A Soul for Europe, EFA and the Evangelical Academy of Berlin invite you to the Berlin Conference on 7 and 8 November 2024 at the Allianz Forum, next to the Brandenburg Gate.
The Berlin Conference 2023: “Resilient Futures: Building a Sustainable Europe”
The Berlin Conference 2022 “Co-Creating Europe from the Bottom-Up!”
The Berlin Conference 2021: "Europe Bottom-Up"
Berlin Conference 2020: "The New Culture of Common Responsibilities"
Roundtables with EU Commissioners for Culture
Arts festivals reconfirm their vital contribution to Europe with Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner
Arts Festivals all over Europe reconfirm the vital contribution of festivals for Europe with Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.
Arts Festivals and their stakeholders met EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel
Europe’s Arts Festivals, together with stakeholders from the media, business, technology, philanthropy and cities, presented Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, with the needs of festivals for post COVID-19 commitments.
European Commissioner for Culture meets Festival Directors 5 March 2019
There is a major shift happening in the European sector of arts festivals.
EFA Delegation meets European Commissioner for Culture
On 21 February a delegation of 24 renowned festival directors from 14 countries met the European Commissioner for Culture, Mr. Tibor Navracsics at the invitation of the European Festivals Association (EFA) for its annual round table meeting.
EU Commissioner for Culture agrees with European Festivals on future collaboration
On 23 February 25 renowned Festival Directors from all over Europe and beyond met the European Commissioner for Culture, Mr. Tibor Navracsics in Brussels at the invitation of the European Festivals Association (EFA). The Commission and EFA agreed on a continued strong collaboration for the best of the arts, artists and cross-border and cross-continental cooperation.