Call for Placements & Exchange 2026 with The Festival Academy
We are excited to announce the new call for the Placements and Exchange initiative organised by The Festival Academy and EFA aimed to build strong links between our festivals’ communities.
Through this initiative, EFA members are invited to host international festival makers from The Festival Academy's diverse Alumni network of 1000+ professionals across 100+ countries by offering them placements within their teams.
The objective is to give Alumni the opportunity to enrich their skills through hands-on experience and for EFA members to benefit from fresh ideas, international perspectives, and hands-on support of passionate professionals who will assist the festival’s artistic or production team.
This exchange offers a true two-way learning experience. By hosting a festival maker, the host not only mentors emerging talent but also to strengthens its team, foster cross-cultural collaboration, and benefit from the experience and passion of globally connected festival professionals. The host gains new approaches and ways of thinking from a different geographical and/or cultural context, enriching their own festival-making practices and opens doors to future partnerships.
Placements’ details
- Formats - Placements can take place online, in person or in a hybrid form, depending on your organisation's capacities.
- Content and timing - The content and timing of the placements are open-ended, but they should offer practical experience by working in the festival's production and/or artistic teams.
- Duration - The minimum duration of the placement is one week.
- Support - For in person and hybrid placements, your organisation should ideally offer accommodation, local transport, food/per diems and insurance.
If your resources allow, we also encourage you to cover travel expenses (total or partial) and to offer a nominal fee to the participant.
Timeline
- March 2026 - EFA Members, festivals and cultural organisations register as hosts and create an outline for the available placement and exchange position(s).
- April 2026 - The Festival Academy launches a booklet with the available placements and exchange opportunities and opens the call for Alumni to apply.
- As of April 2026 - Host organisations start the selection process and interview prospective candidates. Placements and exchanges are offered to selected Alumni applicants.
- As of May 2026 - Placements and exchanges take place.
Who are the Alumni to be hosted?
The Festival Academy sustains and further develops the Alumni Network that unites more than 1000 festival makers from 100+ countries who took part in The Festival Academy's Ateliers for Young Festival Managers, Tailor-Made Ateliers, Festival Production Management Trainings, Ateliers for Solidarity or other activities, such as the Online Ateliers.