We stand with Ukraine: 3 years of solidarity
In the current political context, solidarity with Ukraine is crucial. For 3 years, the European Festivals Association (EFA) has been standing by Ukrainian festivals and artists, including them in its network, and highlighting their activities both in Ukraine and abroad.
The European Festivals Association (EFA) has been founded in 1952 by Swiss writer and philosopher Denis de Rougemont and Ukrainian conductor Igor Markevitch as a peace project, a dialogue platform, an expression of hope and reconciliation.
Over the decades, EFA has served as a platform for dialogue for festival makers, artists, and cultural professionals between east and west, north and south Europe and with other continents, putting forward its vision of fostering peaceful coexistence through the arts.
Arts and culture provide a unique space for connection, transcending politics, borders, and divisions. Festivals are powerful places for building a sense of belonging and unity, connecting individuals beyond nationality, belief, or background. Festivals provide access to diverse artistic expressions that promote exchange, understanding, and solidarity.
In times of crisis, cultural networks like EFA have an important role to play: firstly, in getting festivals to think about and debate the role of art and culture, and more specifically festivals, in today's society. Secondly, by demonstrating and amplifying the solidarity actions that exist in the sector and beyond.
Actions undertaken in 2024
Since 2022, EFA has consistently shown its constant support for Ukraine by including Ukrainian festivals into its network, amplifying their activities, and ensuring that their voices continue to be heard through “Joining hands and hearts, Festivals for Ukraine”. In 2024, EFA and its members took further steps in support of Ukraine.
Ukrainian delegates attended EFA’s Arts Festivals Summit 2024 Usedom where they had the opportunity to connect with their European colleagues, put forward the situation in their country, present their activities, and their ongoing efforts to sustain cultural life.
- From Kharkiv Music Fest (EFA Member): Iryna Chesna, Mariia Gorbonos, Kateryna Lozenko
- From GogolFest (EFA Member): Anna Basova, Maksym Demskyi, Vladyslav Troitskyi
- From Odessa Classic Music Festival (EFA Member): Alexey Botvinov
- From JOYFEST: Viktor Kozhevnikov, Inna Goncharova (Alumni of The Festival Academy)
- From Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival - Darya Levchenko (Alumni of The Festival Academy)
- Polina Bulat - contemporary dance producer, manager and promoter (Alumni of The Festival Academy)
- Kateryna Botanova delivered the closing keynote of the Arts Festivals Summit Usedom, offering profound insights into the role of culture and the arts in times of crisis. Cultural critic, co-curator of Culturescapes, and writer from Kyiv based in Basel, Kateryna made "A few observations on care, awareness, and connecting time we spent together with the war in sight". She shared her perspective on the resilience of Ukraine’s cultural institutions, the challenges faced by artists, and the vital role of international solidarity in sustaining the country’s creative community amidst ongoing conflict. You can dive back in what she said by reading her text here, published in the Spring edition our EFA’s e-magazine Eye-to-Eye, The Festival Quarterly.
- The concert of the EFFEA Residency European Festival Initiative for Ukraine - Connecting Festivals for Sustainable Future Cooperation concluded the Usedom artistic programme on 14 May 2024 at the Międzynarodowy Dom Kultury. This EFFEA residency united three EFA members: Usedom Music Festival, Walden Festival, and KharkivMusicFest and brought together four musicians from Ukraine, Poland, and Belgium to form a multinational string quartet. They have performed new music by young Ukrainian composers curated by KharkivMusicFest combined with pieces of prominent Ukrainian to show solidarity with Ukraine.
- In its third Call, the European Fund For Emerging Artists (EFFEA) supported four artistic residencies with Ukrainian artists Polina Piddubna, Anna Gruver, Joryj Kloc & Gordy Starukh, and Yulia Abramova Serhiivna & Roksolana Dudka and Ukrainian festivals Linoleum Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival, TRANSLATORIUM Literary and Translation Festival, and Nivroku Festival.
- The EFAcast is a series of video interviews putting forward EFA Members and their activities. One of the EFAcasts in 2024 was dedicated to GOGOLFEST. Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the festival activities have been reoriented towards international activities. Listen here the EFAcast to learn how the festival has managed to persevere and continue to exist despite the challenges.
- Flanders Festival Ghent and Odessa Classics Music Festival, both members of EFA, have been collaborating to envision a brighter future for Ukraine through music. Odessa Classics was forced to relocate due to the war, finding new homes in various European cities since 2022. For its tenth anniversary, Odessa Classics performed in Vilnius, Zürich, Lucerne, Bremen, and, for one special evening, in Ghent. On 12 September, Flanders Festival Ghent opened its doors to a moving and unique programme that celebrates resilience and artistic excellence. Watch the interview of Alexey Botvinov here.
- The Festival Academy welcomed two Ukrainian participants to its New York Atelier. The Festival Academy has also published the toolkit “Festivals, Peacebuilding, and Conflict Transformation” which includes contributions from Alumni and experts from Ukraine.
Through these actions - discussions, collaborations, performances, and residencies, - EFA and its members underscore the importance of cultural connection in times of crisis and reaffirm their commitment to fostering international solidarity by supporting and bringing visibility to Ukrainian festivals colleagues. These initiatives not only provide vital opportunities for Ukrainian artists but also reinforce the role of festivals as beacons of hope and unity in troubled times.
Together, we stand with Ukraine, united through the power of culture and the arts.