Together in Care: EFFEA Intake Seminar Generation #4
As part of the EFFEA Intake Seminar Generation #4, Together in Care brought together festival organisers and artists to reflect on well-being, collaboration, and sustainable partnerships. Facilitated by Mahir Namur, Psychological Counsellor and Existential Coach, the one-hour session created an open space for participants to share expectations, needs, and aspirations for their residency collaborations. From the outset, participants were encouraged to view these collaborations as relationships rooted in care, responsibility, and long-term commitment.
Mahir Namur opened the session by reflecting on the motivations behind organising festivals, noting that despite limited financial rewards and increasing pressures, festivals persist because they create meaning. He highlighted that when the focus shifts to transactional or market-driven outcomes, this sense of purpose can be lost. Festivals thrive when partnerships are approached as sustainable, human-centred collaborations.
Two festival makers with experience in previous EFFEA residencies shared their insights.
Aljaž Koprivnikar, Artistic Director of the Festival Literature sveta - Fabula, described how EFFEA enabled the festival to shift its focus towards emerging writers, minority voices and LGBTQ+ perspectives, while rebuilding literary connections across the Balkan region. The residency (discover more on the EFFEA website) led to the creation of an informal platform for Balkan literature festivals, restoring connections that had been lost and extending collaboration beyond the project itself. Koprivnikar emphasised the importance of mental health, transparency and care in cultural work, noting the risk of burnout in intense, production-driven environments. For Fabula, well-being begins within festival structures themselves, as a prerequisite for supporting artists and communities. He added:
The only improvement I would wish for as a festival director is to have a bit more time to hang out with the artists and to build human connections.
Fanny Martin, Executive Director of the Music Biennale Zagreb, highlighted the importance of exchange between festivals. While supporting artists is central, partner festivals must also dedicate time, intention and attention to the partnership itself. Beyond project management, internal reflection within teams helps to understand the meaning of participation in EFFEA and to amplify learning and networks.
As an EFFEA lead partner in EFFEA Call #1 and Call #4, she noted the responsibility to formulate a project that is meaningful for the festival and part of a greater story. She emphasised that motivation is key in carrying out these projects and in believing in the importance of what the partnership is trying to achieve. She also stressed the importance of reflecting: “on the shape of our partnership, on the nature of our relationship, what is the dynamic that drives us, and what is going to be the legacy of our partnership”.
Following the plenary exchange, continued discussions in small breakout groups were sparked by questions such as:
- How would you like to relate to your partners and artists during the residency?
What kind of collaboration, communication, and working atmosphere do you hope for? - What is particularly important for you in this collaboration? This can relate to values, ways of working, trust, care, or communication.
- What individual needs would you like to see acknowledged or fulfilled during the residency? These can be artistic, professional, or personal needs that are important for your well-being and collaboration.
- How could you imagine building relationships that may continue beyond this residency? What do you think is needed to support long-term connections?
Feedback from the breakout groups highlighted the need to clearly outline expectations for both parties: what festivals can provide to artists and what artists can contribute to festivals. Practising honesty, direct communication, giving artists time, attention and genuine interest was seen as crucial, regardless of their level of recognition, something often lacking in today’s cultural landscape.
Mahir Namur concluded the session by noting that uncertainty and challenges are natural in any collaborative environment. Many things will change along the way, and uncertainty can also bring excitement. When working with new things and new people, participants learn from one another, and through this process, the character of a festival also changes. Maintaining a perspective of care was identified as the main goal: to always prioritise this caring approach in cultural work and business practices. If this perspective is maintained, it is possible to make small differences, and these small differences can lead to significant change.