What does EFA do and how can it help you?
The European Festivals Association (EFA) has been uniting distinguished music, dance, theatre and multidisciplinary arts festivals from Europe and beyond for more than 70 years. EFA Members are the core element that make the Association an open, influential, international place for any festival that wants to be part of a bigger festival community.
A Contemporary Network
We are living in a time when money for the arts is rationed, when every expense needs to be justified and new technology and globalisation are changing the way we live and work. The European Festivals Association (EFA) offers festival organisers a front seat in European policy-making and the opportunity to establish networks that lead to dialogues with all sorts of actors. Through EFA, local initiatives achieve international relevance.
EFA is a “We” story, linking people and organisations active in the arts management field, reaching beyond Europe. EFA strives to consolidate interaction between continents, countries and cultures so that there can be mutual inspiration, influence and confrontation. EFA guides the discourse on the value of arts festivals. A sector that is so unique and that shares a myriad of concerns on the level of intellectual, artistic, material and organisational matters deserves a strong umbrella organisation that supports local initiatives and gives arts festivals a unified voice.
Festivals depend on the involvement and professional development of staff members. EFA is a channel for training and communication: face-to-face meetings cover such topics as festival management, project development, emerging artists, new business models, audience outreach strategies, and short residencies and festival visits, to mention but a few.
Inspiration
- EFA gathers dynamic minds from all over the world who are ready to engage, reflect and inspire each other’s’ experiences.
- EFA highlights the role of festivals as pioneers of artistic creation and actors in societal developments: festivals give artists a platform to experiment and take risks which leads to questioning realities and bridging communities.
- EFA members gain deeper insights into festival making around the globe and contribute to this story telling activity.
Networking
- EFA connects festival colleagues and partners from across the globe creating physical and virtual networking opportunities.
- EFA offers its members the opportunity to work together, learn from each other, create alliances, trust and friendship, and show solidarity in their support of one another.
- EFA facilitates opportunities for successful artistic, financial and political partnerships.
Information and Communication
- EFA ensures a continuous loop of information between the association and its members, the broader public and the media.
- EFA informs members about current trends and developments in festivals.
- EFA increases visibility of members through a broad mix of communication tools and actions and brings every single member to the attention of the international festival community.
Knowledge and Training
- EFA nurtures the exchange of knowledge and expertise through international and intergenerational training programmes, specifically aimed at the professional development of young festivals managers and producers.
- EFA encourages the sharing of experiences among peers.
- EFA offers first-hand access to newly released studies and allows for involvement in research activities.
Policy Development
- EFA acts prominently in the wider political debate creating opportunities for festivals to connect their local needs to the broader European and international contexts.
- EFA is a reputable and proactive network that shapes cultural policy developments bringing the strong expertise of festivals rooted in actual practice to the policy making discussion process.
- EFA represents diverse voices from diverse realities while bringing across a joint message.