Atelier Guide - The Festival Academy

21-27 March 2015
Beirut, Lebanon
Atelier Guide
“The true role of a festival is to help artists to dare, to engage in new projects…”
(Bernard Faivre d’Arcier)
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Index
Welcome by Nora Joumblatt, President Beiteddine Art Festival ............................................................................ 2
Welcome by The Festival Academy and the European Festivals Association .......................................................... 3
Programme .............................................................................................................................................................. 5
Mentors and Presenters ........................................................................................................................................ 10
Guest Speakers ...................................................................................................................................................... 17
Cultural Beirut ........................................................................................................................................................ 22
Participants ............................................................................................................................................................ 30
The Festival Academy and its mission ................................................................................................................... 34
Atelier for Young Festival Managers: Mission, history, success ............................................................................ 35
Co-organisers ......................................................................................................................................................... 41
Contacts ................................................................................................................................................................. 42
Venues and maps ................................................................................................................................................... 43
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Welcome by Nora Joumblatt, President Beiteddine Art Festival
Dear Atelier Participants,
Dear Mentors and Presenters,
Dear Honorary Guests,
Dear Colleagues,
With great pleasure, I welcome you – on behalf of the Beiteddine Art Festival, to the 8th edition of the Atelier for Young
Festival Managers! It is the first time that this unique 7-day training takes place in the Arab world and we are very
honoured to have the opportunity to host it in Beirut.
Though one of the smallest countries in the Middle East, Lebanon enjoys an extraordinary rich and diverse human and
cultural heritage, it harbours the largest number of international festivals and numerous cultural venues.
The Beiteddine Art Festival was born in the summer of 1985, at a time when civil war was tearing the country apart. It
was a cry for normality in the chaos of war and what better approach than the arts to inspire citizens, promote dialogue
and encourage social cohesion. Beiteddine became a sanctuary for the arts and with time grew to be one of the leading
festivals in the Middle East
Beirut, the capital city is at the crossroads between East and West. It was reborn seven times from its ashes. This
resilient capital is an Arab metropolis with all the flavours of a contemporary European city. We invite you to enjoy and
discover Beirut, a vibrant city that fascinates with its cultural dynamism; it is an ideal backdrop for the Atelier.
In a fast changing world, the festival sector faces new challenges that the coming generations of festival directors and
cultural professionals have to meet, exploring innovative cultural pathways.
In this context, initiatives such as the Atelier for Young Festival Managers are crucial. It is one of a few programmes in
the world creating opportunities, allowing next generations of festival makers and programmers to network and be
inspired by an amazing group of experienced festival directors. The Beiteddine Art Festival is delighted to support the
Festival Academy and the European Festivals Association in its didactic mission.
On behalf of the Beiteddine Art Festival, I would like to invite all participants, presenters and guests to benefit as much
as possible from the Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Beirut and this incredible network you will now be part of.
We are convinced that everyone will leave Beirut with many new ideas, creative intentions and innovative projects,
with a twist of oriental flavour!
May this edition be memorable!
Nora Joumblatt
President of the Beiteddine Art Festival
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Welcome by The Festival Academy and the European Festivals Association
Dear Atelier Participants,
Dear Mentors and Presenters,
Dear Honorary Guests,
Dear Colleagues,
The Festival Academy, an initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA), is delighted to welcome you to the 8th
Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Beirut, hosted by the Beiteddine Art Festival.
We are very pleased to bring together 36 talented, emerging artistic festival managers from 21 countries and five
continents and seven renowned festival leaders. The Atelier is a unique occasion for participants and presenters alike to
step out of the daily routine for seven days, and to plunge into in-depth discussions on the artistic role of festivals. “The
true role of a festival is to help artists to dare, to engage in new projects,” once said Bernard Faivre d’Arcier. His
statement has been guiding the Atelier since its very inception in 2006 – no other quote could capture the spirit of the
training programme better.
The artistic aspects of festival management are at heart of all Atelier exchanges. The Atelier is also a unique opportunity
for participants and presenters to network, to exchange ideas and to explore future cooperation possibilities.
“The aim of the Atelier is to discuss the artistic aspects of festival management, including inspiring artists, delighting
and challenging audiences, political and social responsibility, internationalism and sustainability,” said Lisa Dempster
from the Melbourne Writers Festival and participant of the Atelier POZNAN 2014.
After seven successful editions in Görlitz, Germany (2006), Varna, Bulgaria (2009), Singapore and Izmir, Turkey (2011),
Ljubljana, Slovenia (2012), Edinburgh, UK (2014) and Poznan, Poland (2014), the Atelier Alumni Network counts 264
young artistic festival managers and 32 high-level festival leaders from 60 countries worldwide. We are thrilled to
welcome you to this network and invite you to become an active member of it.
With its Arab and European influences, Beirut embodies the encounter of different cultures and offers a unique
background for an international programme such as the Atelier. We are looking forward to getting to know this vibrant
city together with you. The first Atelier in the Arab World is organised at a time when societies are faced with moments
of change and questions. There is a great need for debate on the concept and the implementation of democracy,
pluralism and citizenship, and a global trend that shows us new tools and concepts are needed to bring contemporary
democratic values to life. Since 1998 the European Festivals Association includes member festivals from Lebanon such
as the Beirut Chants Festival, Al Bustan Festival, Beiteddine Art Festival and Baalbeck International Festival in order to
pursue this objective. You will meet and be introduced to all these festivals and many more cultural players from
Lebanon during the Atelier. The Festival Academy and EFA, together with its members and partners such as the
European House for Culture or A Soul for Europe, is continuously working on the role arts and culture have to play in
this process.
In the 2015 Beirut edition of the Atelier the participants will meet Hortense Archambault, Hugo De Greef, Rania Elias,
Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, Nele Hertling, Ruth MacKenzie and Alain Weber – all renowned, trailblazing festival managers
who will share their rich experiences with the participants and many more guest speakers from Lebanon. To meet such
an outstanding group makes the Atelier unique; an Atelier Alumni stated: “I am overwhelmed by an appreciation of
being able to work so closely with so many experienced festival directors, to ask my questions and to hear the wide
variety of stories they are able to offer about festival-making, their approaches, successes, challenges and failures. It
would be impossible to teach ‘festival direction’ in this way in any other kind of fixed institution.” The previous Ateliers
have proved how this experience can serve as a stepping stone for young leaders to grow in their careers, to extend
their international networks and to start new collaborations.
The Atelier BEIRUT 2015 is the third edition taking place under the newly established organisation The Festival
Academy, launched in April 2013. The Festival Academy incorporates extended partnerships with networks, cultural
institutes, embassies and festivals, higher geographical outreach and new training formats in festival management
addressed at more diverse target groups. Thus, it will bring the Atelier for Young Festival Managers to a next level. We
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are already looking forward to the next Atelier - which will take place in September 2015 for the second time in Asia - in
Gwangju, South Korea, in collaboration with the Chonnam National University and the Asian Arts Theatre (Asian Culture
Complex). In the meantime, we are also preparing a new training format for production managers; a first edition is
planned this year in Antwerp in collaboration with DeSingel.
To conclude, on behalf of The Festival Academy and the European Festivals Association, we would like to thank our
host, the Beiteddine Art Festival, its President, Nora Joumblatt, its director, Hala Chahine, and their team, amongst
others Hollie Ghandour, for their collaboration in making this Atelier possible. Special thanks go also to all local partners
who allow us an insight into the diverse cultural scene of Beirut; to all public institutions which contribute to the
development of the young festival generation; as well as to our outstanding festival leaders who have shown perpetual
enthusiasm for the Atelier for many years. Last but not least, we would like to thank Hugo De Greef who has been
guiding the Atelier since its beginning, always developing further the content and formats, leading, motivating and
involving the presenters in the discussions with the group of young festival leaders.
We are looking forward to the next seven days here in Beirut, to discover its artistic and cultural life, to broaden our
skills, and to get inspired by one another. And, together with Inge Ceustermans, Managing Director of The Festival
Academy, we wish all of us an inspiring time in Beirut!
Darko Brlek
The Festival Academy President
EFA President
Kathrin Deventer
EFA Secretary General
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Programme
Mentors and Speakers:

Hortense Archambault (Director MC93 La Maison de la Culture de la Seine Saint-Denis, Bobigny; Former Director
Avignon Festival – France)

Hugo De Greef (Atelier Coordinator, former EFA Secretary General, Director European Capital of Culture Bruges
2002, Co-Founder Kaaitheater Brussels – Belgium)

Rania Elias (Director Yabous Cultural Centre and the Jerusalem Festival – Palestine)

Bernard Faivre d’Arcier (President Lyon Biennial, former Director Avignon Festival – France)

Nele Hertling (Vice-Chair of the Academy of Arts Berlin – Germany)

Ruth MacKenzie (Director Holland Festival, General Manager Olympic Cultural Festival 2012 – Netherlands/UK)

Alain Weber (Artistic Director of Fes Festival – Morocco)
Guest Speakers, amongst others:

Nayla de Freige (President Baalbeck Festival – Lebanon)

Micheline Abi Samra (President Beirut Chants Festival – Lebanon)

Nora Joumblatt (President Beiteddine Art Festival – Lebanon)

Laura Lahoud (Committee Member Al Bustan Festival – Lebanon)

Alissar Caracalla (Caracalla Dance Company – Lebanon)

Randa Asmar (Director Spring Festival – Lebanon)

Monique Bellan (Researcher Orient Institut Beirut – Germany/Lebanon)

Cornelia Krafft (Artist/ Choreographer; Former Assistant Professor Department of Fine Arts and Art History
American University of Beirut (AUB) – Germany/Lebanon)

Paul Mattar (Director Monnot Theatre – Lebanon)

Omar Rajeh (Artistic Director Maqamat Dance Theatre/ Founder of Bipod-Beirut International Platform of Dance –
Lebanon)

Nagy Souraty (Director Al Madina Theatre – Lebanon)

Hala Chahine (Director Beiteddine Art Festival – Lebanon)
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All Atelier sessions take place at the main meeting venue Ecole Supérieure des Affaires (ESA), Ain El Mreisseh Beirut, unless stated
otherwise
Saturday, 21 March 2015 – DAY 1
Hugo De Greef, Nele Hertling, Ruth MacKenzie are present
15:00 – 16:30
Participant’s registration at the Mayflower Hotel
16:45
Departure from Mayflower Hotel by bus to Sursock Palace
Opening Ceremony at the Villa Linda Sursock (Sursock Palace)
17:45
Guests, participants and mentors and presenters arrive
18:00
Welcome speeches and introductions:
 Welcome by Nora Joumblatt, President Beiteddine Art Festival
 Welcome by H.E. Mr. Michel Pharaon, Minister of Tourism
 Welcome by H.E. Mr. Rony Araiji, Minister of Culture
 Welcome by Darko Brlek, President of the European Festivals Association
 Introduction by Inge Ceustermans, Managing Director The Festival Academy (initiative of
EFA)
 Keynote speech by Ruth MacKenzie, Director Holland Festival
19:30
Buffet dinner reception
Sunday, 22 March 2015 – DAY 2
Mentors participate in all sessions
Hugo De Greef, Nele Hertling, Ruth MacKenzie are present
9:00 – 9:15
Welcome and Introduction by Hugo De Greef, Atelier Coordinator and moderator
9:15 – 11.00
Object & presentation session 1
Each participant briefly presents her- or himself through an object and personal comments
11:30 – 13:00
Presentation by Nele Hertling & working session²
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 17:00
Introduction by Ruth MacKenzie
Dialogue with Ruth MacKenzie & Nele Hertling on their keynote speech, on their experiences
with festivals and on topics brought up by participants
18:45
Transport from Mayflower hotel to the Zoukak studio (30 minutes)
19:15 – 20:15
Evening session at Zoukak Theatre Company
Encounter with the members of Zoukak Theatre Company
20:15
Transport from Zoukak Theatre to Hamra (30 minutes)
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Participants present themselves. The presentation should take only a few minutes. Please bring an object that you can use as a
starting point for a story or reflexion that tells something about you, personally. This might offer an insight into your values and
motivations and how they relate to your professional life and what you are trying to achieve. Please prepare yourselves for this.
² All working sessions will be in different formats: in plenary, in small groups with or without mentors, by topics.... The formats will be
decided during the ‘Atelier’ and the sessions following the discussions and the preferences of the group of participants.
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20:45 – 22:00
Dinner and working sessions
Monday, 23 March 2015 – DAY 3
Hortense Archambault, Hugo De Greef, Nele Hertling are present
9:00 – 11:00
Working Sessions on the proposed topics of the participants
11:00 – 13:00
Working Sessions on the proposed topics of the participants
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 16:00
Presentation by and Dialogue with Hortense Archambault
16:30 – 18:00
Working sessions
18:30 – 19:45
Evening session Al Madina Theatre
Encounter and exchange with Nagy Souraty, Director Al Madina
Round table with cultural actors from Lebanon Nagy Souraty, Omar Rajeh, Cornelia Krafft
and Monique Bellan
20:00 – 22:00
Café de Prague for dinner and drinks
Tuesday, 24 March 2015 - DAY 4
Hortense Archambault, Hugo De Greef, Rania Elias, Nele Hertling are present
Working day at Mir Amine Palace (1 hour drive from Beirut) - a sister palace of The Beiteddine Palace in the Chouf
Departure at 8:45 at the hotel
10:00- 11:30
Exchange with Nora Joumblatt and Hala Chahine on the Beiteddine Art Festival and on the
cultural life in Lebanon and the region.
11:30 – 13:00
Open discussions and reflections on the outcomes of the Atelier until now with conclusions
to elaborate in the coming days
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch at Mir Amine Palace next to the Beiteddine Palace
14:00 – 15:00
Visit of Beiteddine Palace
15:00
Departure to the National Library in Baakline (5 minutes drive)
15:15 – 17:00
Visit Maqamat Beit El Raqs / residency place Bipod at the National Library in Baakline
Presentation Rania Elias (16:00 – 17:00)
17.00
Return to Mir Amine Palace
17:30 – 21:00
Dialogue with Rania Elias and the other mentors
Working sessions
Dinner at Mir Amine Palace
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Wednesday, 25 March 2015 - DAY 5
Hortense Archambault, Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, Hugo De Greef, Rania Elias, Nele Hertling, Alain Weber are present
9:30 – 13:30
Visit and introduction to different cultural venues in Beirut in small groups including amongst
others Askhal Alwan, Beirut Art Centre, Al Bustan Festival, Zicco House, Monnot Theatre,
Caracalla Dance Company, Shams, Metro Al Madina etc.
14:00 – 15:00
Lunch
15:00 – 16:30
Round table presided by Nayla de Freige, President Baalbeck Festival
Exchange about the visits. Meetings and exchange with locals and artistic directors related to
the morning visits with amongst others Paul Mattar, Director Monnot Theatre; Randa Asmar,
Director Spring Festival; Micheline Abi Samra, President Beirut Chants Festival; Alissar
Caracalla, Caracalla Dance Company; Laura Lahoud, Committee Member Al Bustan Festival
17:00 – 18:00
Presentation by Alain Weber Artistic director Fes Festival
Reflections of the participants together with all the mentors present
18:00
Departure to Downtown Beirut by bus
18:30
Light dinner at ‘Suz' restaurant downtown by the church.
20:00
Private Concert at a historical Church hosted by Beirut Chants Festival
21:30
Departure to hotel
Thursday, 26 March 2015 – DAY 6
Hugo De Greef, Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, Nele Hertling, Alain Weber are present
9:00 – 13:00
The essentials of the previous days
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 15:30
Dialogue with Alain Weber and Introduction by Bernard Faivre d’Arcier
15:30 – 18:00
Atelier conclusions and gained insights are elaborated in small groups.
21:30
Transport to Music Hall from Mayflower Hotel
22:00
Musical show and drinks at Music Hall
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Friday, 27 March 2015 – DAY 7
Hugo De Greef, Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, and Nele Hertling are present; Morning off
Optional: Guided city walk in Beirut
14:00 – 17:00
Open exchange with Mentors present & all participants on the main Atelier topics, and
drawing conclusions
18:00 – 20:00
Closing Session at ESA
 Nora Joumblatt, President Beiteddine Art Festival
 Nada Sardouk, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism
 Stephane Attali, Director General of ESA
 Hugo De Greef, Atelier Coordinator
 Inge Ceustermans, Managing Director The Festival Academy (initiative of EFA)
20:00 - 22:00
Reception with drinks and food
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Mentors and Presenters
Hortense Archambault
Maison de la culture
De la Seine Saint-Denis
Avignon Festival
Artistic and Cultural
Consultant
Political advisor of the French
Ministry of Culture
Director MC93 Maison de la culture de
la Seine Saint-Denis, Bobigny - France
Hortense Archambault obtained a degree in history at the Sorbonne University and a Master
of Advanced Study in cultural management. After different experiences in production, she
worked at the Festival d’Avignon from 1999 until 2013 as an administrator under the
direction of Bernard Faivre d'Arcier. In 2003 she was appointed Co-Director of the festival
together with Vincent Baudriller. They directed the Avignon Festival for 10 years, until 2013.
In that period, she focused on audience development and managed to diversify the
Festival’s audience. Together with Vincent Baudriller, Hortense Archambault developed the
programme of the Festival with associate artists, who changed every year (Thomas
Ostermeier in 2004, Jan Fabre in 2005, Josef Nadj in 2006, Frédéric Fisbach in 2007, Valérie
Dréville and Romeo Castellucci in 2008, Wajdi Mouawad in 2009, Olivier Cadiot and
Christoph Marthaler in 2010, Boris Charmatz in 2011, Simon Mc Burney in 2012, Dieudonné
Niangouna and Stanislas Nordey in 2013). She then became an artistic and cultural
consultant, and also works as a trainer. In March 2015, Hortense Archambault has been
nominated as Director of MC93 Maison de la culture de la Seine Saint-Denis in Bobigny as
of the 1st of August 2015.
Nous avons tout de suite voulu placer les projets et les enjeux du Festival sous le
signe du dialogue. D’abord dialogue à deux, entre Vincent (l’autre co-directeur) et
moi, et ensuite dialogue à trois ou quatre, avec l’appel à un ou deux artistes
associés pour irriguer, bousculer chaque année cette institution qu’est le Festival
d’Avignon, puis l’élargir progressivement à l’équipe. Il nous paraissait nécessaire
d’aborder chaque nouvelle édition avec de nouveaux angles pour regarder le
théâtre, de nouveaux points de vue.
Hortense Archambault
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Hugo De Greef
European Festivals Association
Brussels and Brugge European
Capitals of Culture
de
IETM
Felix Meritis Foundation
Kaaitheater
Flagey Arts Center
Co-founder and board member of The Festival Academy
Atelier Coordinator
Former EFA Secretary General
The Atelier for Young Festival Managers was launched by the European Festivals
Association (EFA) in 2006, when Hugo De Greef was the Association’s Secretary General
(2004-2008). Today, he is the Atelier Coordinator and co-founder of The Festival
Academy - the organisation set-up by EFA to run the Atelier - amongst other functions in
the cultural sector, both in Belgium and internationally. Hugo De Greef is continuously
engaged for better conditions of art and artists around the world. To mention just a few
highlights in what has been a distinguished career in the cultural sector: Hugo De Greef
co-founded the Informal European Theatre Meeting (IETM), the Flemish Theatre
monthly ETCETERA, the international publication THEATERSCHRIFT, the Philosophy
Festival, the European House for Culture in Brussels, and in 2013 the School of
Gaasbeek, a new workplace and residency for artists near Brussels. Hugo De Greef has
been the General Manager of the Kaaitheater in Brussels for 20 years. He was the
General Manager of the European Capital of Culture in Brugge 2002 and Artistic Director
for Brussels 2000. From 2007 to 2010 he was the General Manager of the Flagey Arts
Centre in Brussels and in 1998/1999 he was the Artistic Advisor of the Flanders Festival.
His international activities include, amongst others: co-productions with
Flemish/Belgian, European and American artists, organisation of the Flemish Arts
presentation during the Expo in Lisbon in 1998, member of the advisory board for the
Theater for men festival for the Expo in Hannover in 2000, initiator for the New Europe
festival in New York in October 1999.
Until recently Hugo De Greef was advisor for International Cultural Policy to the
Minister of Culture in Flanders. He is a Board member of ”A Soul for Europe” and the
European House for Culture, President of PARTS, a dance school in Brussels founded by
Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, and President of Passa Porta, the house of literature in
Brussels. Currently, he is the Co-director of the platform EFFE – Europe for Festivals,
Festivals for Europe.
“We could feel at every moment the experience he gained in his various
functions as a theatre director but also as an advisor for the cultural
politics of his country. He was a good organiser, leader and at the same
time showed subtle diplomacy and great listening. [...] Hugo De Greef
knows how to listen, guide, highlight a word, which makes him an
outstanding mediator.”
Participant Atelier LJUBLJANA 2012
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Rania Elias
Yabous Cultural Centre
Jerusalem Festival
Bethlehem International
Festival
Riwaq - Center for
Architectural Conservation
Al Quds – Capital of
Arab Culture 2009
Director of Yabous Cultural Centre and
the Jerusalem Festival, Palestine
Director of the Yabous Cultural Centre in Jerusalem, Palestine since 1998, Rania Elias has
been dealing with local and international public relations, business management, events
management, project coordination and funding.
She has been the director of the Jerusalem Festival since 1998.
The main annual activity of the Yabous Cultural Centre is the Jerusalem Festival, which
was launched in 1996. 18 festivals have been successfully organised over the years. Each
festival encompasses a unique theme and vision, which consequently defines the
character, the atmosphere and the programme of the festival. The festivals have featured
renowned Palestinian, Arab, and international artists.
Rania Elias is on the board of trustees of several organisations and networks, both
Palestinian and international. She is a major speaker in international and local conferences
and meetings dealing with cultural issues in Palestine.
She contributed to several studies during her work as a Fieldwork Researcher and has
been active in voluntary social work involved in dealing with cases of abuse in various
human rights issues.
Rania Elias was the acting Director of the Bethlehem International Festival 1995 –
Palestinian Ministry of Culture, and the Administrative Director of Riwaq - Center for
Architectural Conservation – Ramallah (1995-1998).
In 2007, she was appointed as a member of the national and executive committee for Al
Quds – Capital of Arab Culture 2009 and head of the events committee.
The Yabous Cultural Centre is a unique cultural non-governmental organisation
based in East Jerusalem. Our 18 years of experience have given our young and
dynamic staff a profound understanding of promoting culture in East Jerusalem
and how important it is for civic engagement and nation building.
We encourage cultural values that enhance innovation, quality, diversity and
tolerance to varying cultures and their values, provided this does not
compromise our principles.
Rania Elias
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Bernard Faivre d’Arcier
Biennale de la Danse de Lyon
Theatre de la ville de Paris
Centre National du Théâtre
International Fund for the
Promotion of Culture
La Sept
French Ministry of Culture
President Lyon Biennial,
former long-standing Director Festival d’Avignon – France
Bernard Faivre d'Arcier studied Economy, Business Management and Political
Science. He decided to work for the Ministry of Culture rather than for the Ministry
of Finance. Cultural policy, in his opinion, is just as important as economic policy. He
was leading and advising boards of directors in numerous art organizations in France
and across Europe.
He was Deputy Director of the National Audiovisual Institute, Deputy to the
President of the National Centre of Cinematography, Director of the Centre
National du Théâtre, and Culture Advisor to the French Prime Minister Laurent
Fabius. He also worked with the biggest festivals all over the world. He was the
Director of the Avignon Festival (1979-1984 and 1993-2003) and Consultant of
festivals in Houston, Tokyo and Rome. With consulting and designing clear artistic
visions he influences political strategies of arts. Furthermore, Bernard Faivre d'Arcier
was Head of the Cultural Development Department at the Ministry of Culture in
France (1984-1986), Chairman of the International Fund for the Promotion of
Culture (UNESCO), and Commissioner for the Hungarian and the Polish Cultural
Season in France.
Avignon Festival
National Audiovisual Institute
He launched the television channel La Sept, now Arte, and is a founder of the
European Theatre Network Theorem.
Currently, he is the President of the Lyon Biennial in France, Vice President of the
Theatre de la Ville de Paris, Cultural Consultant at BFA-Conseil, and the initiator of
the Cultural Cooperation Institution “Metz en scene”.
“Bernard Faivre d'Arcier gave us a strong sense of the story of European festivals, in
particular the Avignon Festival which was started by gallerists in post-war France.
Bernard, as with the other mentors, went into what it has to be a festival. The
question in this is: when is something a festival and when is it a season of
programmed events? What makes a festival a festival?” Summa Durie, participant
Atelier EDINBURGH 2014.
“Art can bring a dissent, upset minds; change the perception of the world, the
way of thinking. Art can be dangerous and divide people. And this implies a very
specific responsibility for festival directors to build a direct relation with the
public.”
Bernard Faivre d’Arcier
Mentor at the Atelier in GÖRLITZ 2006, VARNA 2009, SINGAPORE 2011, LJUBLJANA 2012 and
EDINBURG 2014
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Nele
Hertling
Nele
Hertling
European House for Culture
A Soul for Europe
Berliner Künstlerprogramm
des DAAD
Internationales Tanzfest
Hebbel Theatre
Tanz im August
1988 Berlin European Capital
of Culture
Berlin Academy of Arts
Vice President of the Academy of Arts Berlin, Member Strategy
Group “A Soul for Europe” – Germany
Throughout her career Nele Hertling has built many collaborations, created festivals
and established organisations in Europe representing turning points of changes in
society at their respective times. She was the General Manager of Berlin - European
Capital of Culture in 1988. One year later, she reactivated the Hebbel-Theatre in
Berlin, and acted as its Artistic Director until 2003. From 2003 to 2007, she was the
Head of the Berliner Künstlerprogramm des DAAD.
Nele Hertling organised contemporary dance festivals in Berlin: Dance in August
(1988), International Dance festival (1999), and, together with Thomas Langhoff,
she created the programme of Theater der Welt (1999). Today, she is the Vice
President of the Academy of Arts in Berlin. She is a founder and member of many
international associations devoted to the support and promotion of art such as the
European House for Culture and “A Soul for Europe”.
Nele Hertling is convinced that changes have to happen in the hearts of the citizens,
artists, city representatives or state commissioners in order to be successful on the
long run. Projects and programmes initiated by the EU can be good examples and
serve as support, but local integration of art practitioners and political lobbying has
to be a bottom-up process in a specific city or state.
“Nele Hertling and her infinite wisdom humanised the experience of working with
artists and working as part of a team to create remarkable things.”
Summa Durie, participant Atelier EDINBURGH 2014.
“A festival gives you the chance to do extraordinary things. It creates an
atmosphere, and supports productions that most theatres wouldn’t be able
to produce. And you can really use this atmosphere to take risks and to take
an audience with you because they are in a group, sharing a moment
together. But as a festival director, you have to keep in mind that you must
support the artist and that the artist isn’t there to support you. You are the
one to enable the artist to create something.”
Nele Hertling
Mentor at the Atelier in GÖRLITZ 2006, VARNA 2009, SINGAPORE, IZMIR 2011, LJUBLJANA 2012 and EDINBURG 2014
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Alain Weber
Sacred Spirit Festival Jodhpur
Festival
Les Orientales Festival of St-Florent-le-Veil
Musicas Segradas of Evora Festival
Zaman & Arts Production
Philarmonie Cité de la Musique
Long Distance Label
Artistic Director of the Fez Sacred Music Festival - Morocco
Alain Weber is dedicated to present a traditional and World Music heritage through many
forms - expert of Eastern music and gypsy music among others, he is presenting some of
the most rare traditions of this world through real artistic concepts. Founder of the
famous Musicians of the Nile, he went on to become producer at Radio France: France
Culture, France Musique, France Inter, for whom he created “Pygmies” in 1992. He
created the labels Long Distance and Cities in 1994 with Armand Amar (with more than
70 cds dedicated to the traditional music).
Alain Weber was also musical advisor to the Paris Théâtre de la Ville and for this theatre,
produced numerous concerts and artists from the Arab world and Egypt, such as sufi
singers like Sheikh Yasîn al-Tuhami, Sheikh Barrayn, Sheikh Ahmad al-Tunî, etc. Since
1987, he has been concentrating on large musical events that for the first time introduce
true themes and, as such, he has anticipated a new approach in world music, by
presenting musical week ends such as les Tsiganes du Monde (1992) Opéra Africa (1993),
Les Nuits du Maghreb (1994), and so on. He was also creator of the major project
Children of today - Musicians of tomorrow for the year 2000 celebrations for the Cité
des Enfants in Blois (France) and for the 2000 Expo in Hanover. In parallel, Alain Weber
produced the programme of: Gypsy nights for Pina Bausch in Wuppertal in October 1998,
Gypsy music festival in Sao Paulo (Brazil) in October 1999. He was responsible for the
world music programme for Expo 2000 in Hanover and also produced the gypsy artistic
programme for the Universal Exposition in Lisbon (1998).
Alain Weber is also directing different music productions as a stage director for, “The
Songs of the Nile”( 1997), or Women of the plains and the mountains (1999), “In the steps
of Marco Polo” in Lebanon (2013), “Au Coeur du Nil soufi” (2014).
Apart of the festivals and venues mentioned above, Alain Weber was nominated in 2005
as the Artistic Director of the Theatre Claude Levi Strauss for the Quay Branly Museum
in Paris. He was also nominated as the Artistic Director of the Tozeur Festival de
musiques du monde in Tunisia. He organised different events for Hermes international
in Egypt and France (2009 and 2014). He is also the music director of the future Lebanese
documentary serie with Abir Nehmé “Ethnopholia” presenting traditional music through
the world.
The festival « Les Orientales » presents traditions that live. There are two kinds of
traditional expressions: those that are still evolving in their original context,
connected to the tenor of the sacred and stamped by everyday life: the village, the
wedding, and the pilgrimage. And then there are these musical traditions that
make their way through the modern environment and are timeless.
Alain Weber
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Ruth MacKenzie
Holland Festival
The Space
Artistic Director Holland Festival – The Netherlands
Ruth MacKenzie is the Artistic Director of the Holland Festival, Amsterdam’s
prestigious international arts festival, with her first curated festival to take place in
June 2015. She is also Interim CEO and Creative Director of The Space, a new digital
commissioning body set up by the Arts Council England and the BBC.
London 2012 Cultural Olympiad
Manchester International Festival
Chichester Festival Theatre
Nottingham Playhouse
South Bank Centre
Vienna Festival
Department of Culture, Media and Sport
She was most recently the Director of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, and
Curator of its finale, the London 2012 Festival. This official cultural programme for
the Olympic & Paralympic Games was the largest UK Festival in the country’s
history, involving over 25,000 artists from every country participating in the Games,
and over 20 million attendances, 80% of which were free. She was previously
General Director of the Manchester International Festival and Scottish Opera;
Artistic Director of the Chichester Festival Theatre; Executive Director of
Nottingham Playhouse; Head of Strategic Planning for the South Bank Centre. She
has also been Consultant Dramaturgy to the Vienna Festival, Consultant to the
BBC, Tate, London Symphony Orchestra, Barbican Centre, British Council and
British Film Institute, amongst others.
Between 1999 and 2010, she served as an Expert and Special Adviser on culture
and media to five Secretaries of State for the Department of Culture, Media &
Sport in the UK Government.
Art belongs to people. During the Prehistoric time we discovered fire, found
food, and a home in caves. We directly started drawing, tell each other
stories, and make music. Art helps us to understand the world. The first
European art festivals appeared shortly after the Second World War. Europa
was devastated, and we created.
Ruth MacKenzie
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Guest Speakers
Nayla de Freige (President Baalbeck Festival – Lebanon)
Nayla is the Author of “Histoire Illustrée du Liban” published by Larousse in 1987. It
was translated to Arabic, English and Portugese. She is the general manager of the
economic magazine “Le Commerce du Levant” since 1996. She then also became the
executive director of the daily newspaper “L’Orient Le Jour” in 2000. Since 2011, She is
the President of “The Baalbeck International Festival”.
Micheline Abi Samra (President Beirut Chants Festival – Lebanon)
Micheline Abi Samra is the founder of the prominent Lebanese festival “Beirut Chants”
since 2008. “Beirut Chants”, is one of the largest music festivals in Lebanon, has been
held every year, since 2008, in the historic churches of Beirut to celebrate the advent of
Christmas. As a tangible work towards religious tolerance and conviviality, “Beirut
Chants” feature every year more than 25 local and international performances for 22
consecutive night, the open doors festival attracts yearly over 30,000 people.
Abi Samra is also a committee member at the Children’s Cancer Center in Lebanon
(Saint Jude) since 2004. She is in charge of organizing and planning the annual
fundraising activities of Saint Jude center that has become the largest medical
treatment center in the Middle East.
Abi Samra is a Member of the Lebanese Religious Tourism (NGO) since 2010, an
initiative to endorse tolerance and acceptance between all religious.
Nora Joumblatt (President Beiteddine Art Festival – Lebanon)
Founder & President of the Beiteddine Art Festival. President of the Executive
Committee of the Friends of the American University of Beirut Museum (2003 – 2009).
Member of, the Executive Committee of Al Shouf Cedars Nature Reserve, the Board of
Trustees of the Samir Kassir Foundation, the Executive Committee of the Fondation
Nationale du Patrimoine and the Executive Committee of ROTA, Qatar Foundation, the
Executive Board of the European Festivals Association (2011-2014).
Nora was the Artistic Director of the Opening Ceremony of the 6th Games of the
Francophone Games held in Beirut in 2009.
Awarded: Commander of the Spanish Order of Isabella the Catholic (2009), Chevalier de
l’Ordre National du Mérite Francais – April 2012, Commander of the Ordine della Stella
d’Italia (Feb.2015).
17
Laura Lahoud (Committee Member Al Bustan Festival)
Laura Lahoud has a Bachelor in Mathematics of the Chelsea College at London University.
She graduated for her Master in Mathematics and Operational research at the London
School of Economics, which belongs to the London University. Laura is a member of the
Al Bustan Festival Committee, and a member of the board of BIT bank in Beirut.
Alissar Caracalla (Artistic Director Caracalla Dance Company – Lebanon)
Alissar is a choreographer of the Caracalla Dance Theatre and founder of Caracalla
dance school. Her creative style in choreography adds an innovative spirit to the unique
Caracalla technique since the ballet “ELissa Queen of Carthage” in 1996 all the way to
the production of “Villagers’ Opera” and “kan Ya Makan” 2012. She has built her
theatrical experience by working closely with her mentor, her father Abdel-Halim
Caracalla. Her rich heritage has been deepened by her education in the United States
of America with her accomplishment of her BA in International Communications and
her BA in Dance at Loyola Marymount University and her MFA Dance Theory and
Choreography at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Alissar has also received acknowledgment with her artistic involvement as the leading
choreographer in the hit reality TV show “Star Academy” season 1 through to season 9
and as a main Judge on the international TV production “So You Think You Can Dance”.
The audience experienced her choreographies not only in Style Caracalla and Folklore,
but her vast creativity in Jazz, Hip-Hop, contemporary modern and Show- business. Her
experience in TV and commercial work was gained through her extensive studies at the
Edge Performing arts center, Hollywood, where she studied under the leading names in
commercial dance.
Randa Asmar (Director Spring Festival – Lebanon)
Actress since 1982, graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Lebanese UniversityTheatre Section; graduate of USEK – Master in fine Arts, she is currently a theatre
professor at the Lebanese University. She is also the Director of “Beirut Spring Festival”
organized by the Samir Kassir Foundation, since 2009. Randa Asmar played many
leading roles under the direction of the most famous theatre directors in the Arab
world. Her latest work on stage was the monologue of Hoda Barakat: “Viva La Diva”
(2010-2011). She played major roles in many TV series since 1986. Her latest recent TV
appearance was is “Yasmina” (LBCI, 2014-2015). She also took part in many motion
pictures such as “Martyrs” and “Paper Kite”, winner of the silver palm in Venice
Festival. She participated in a number of festivals and tours in Arab and European
countries. Randa Asmar won many prizes for some of her theatre roles and got tributes
from cultural institutions.
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Monique Bellan (Researcher Orient Institut Beirut – Germany/ Lebanon)
Monique Bellan (Orient-Institut Beirut) is a researcher in modern and contemporary art
and theatre with a focus on Lebanon and Egypt. She received her Ph.D. in Oriental
Studies from Free University Berlin in 2012. Her thesis was published in 2013 under the
title dismember remember: The anatomic theatre of Lina Saneh and Rabih Mroué
(Reichert Verlag Wiesbaden). She has previously worked at the Academy of Arts in
Berlin and the Collaborative Research Center “Aesthetic experience and the dissolution
of artistic limits” at Free University Berlin and has translated several works by Saneh
and Mroué into German.
Cornelia Krafft (Artist/ Choreographer; Former Assistant Professor Department of Fine Arts and Art History American
University of Beirut (AUB) – Germany/ Lebanon)
Cornelia Krafft was born in Munich, Germany, in 1972. She holds a Master of Fine Arts
degree from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, Austria. Krafft taught at the University
of Applied Arts in Vienna for ten years before coming in 2009 as a visiting professor to
the Department of Fine Arts and Art History at the American University of Beirut (AUB),
where she continued as an Assistant Professor until January 2015.
Her work deploys strategies from performance art, choreography, installation, film and
stage, and costume design into a singular whole. Krafft’s art has been showcased in
Vienna, London, Munich, Berlin, Venice, Beirut, and in Bundanon, Australia. At the
Department of Fine Arts and Art History in AUB, she pioneered the teaching of
performance art, and continues this work in Lebanon and throughout Europe. She has
taken part in multiple international artist residencies, has been awarded numerous
grants for her academic work, and was nominated for the 2014 AUB Teaching
Excellence Award. Krafft’s performances and choreographies are generally mute and
often explore natural or deserted urban spaces as a stage. In Lebanon, her installations,
paintings, photography, and films were twice showcased at Gallery Janine Rubeiz, at
the Musée Sursock Salon d’Automne XXX/XXXI, and MACAM gallery. In Beirut, she
choreographed a series of major performances, including “777”, “Along the White
Line”, and “Salome vs Bluebeard”, for which she was awarded a Mellon Foundation
Grant. “Salome vs Bluebeard” and “After 100 Springs” (based on Igor Stravinskiy’s “The
Rite of Spring”) were both staged in cooperation with the Al Madina Theater, Beirut.
Krafft’s work as an artist and choreographer has received broad local and international
coverage with reviews in various print media and broadcasts in news media. From
May–July 2014 she was an artist in residency at MARMA Studio Berlin.
Her first publication “MUTE MOVEMENTS a collective performance art journey through
Beirut 2009-2014” is launched in March 2015 and she is one of the selected artists for
the Lebanese participation at the International Prague Quadrennial (PQ) for
Performance Design and Space in June 2015.
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Paul Mattar (Director Monnot Theatre - Lebanon)
Being an artist and an educator, Mr. Mattar shares his time between artistic
productions, educational and academic activities related to Theatre and Audiovisual.
From a Lebanese father and a Syrian mother, Mr. Mattar was born in Egypt where he
grew up. Mr. Mattar has a large knowledge of the Arab Societies and Traditions.
After he got his University degree in Economics (1970), he first worked as a journalist in
Lebanon. He studied Theatre in Paris (France) and performed as a stage and movies
actor, director, composer (songs, scores for plays and movies) in Europe and the Arab
World. From 1977 to 1979, he undertook an ethno-musicological field research and
published a book in Arabic on the Gulf States tradition and folk songs “Khaleej Al
Aghani” (1981). Starting from 1981 he specialized in children and educational
productions in Lebanon and the Arab World where he produced many plays and CD
records. He directed and produced many video films for the UNICEF (the “Om Oyoun”
TV series, Vaccination Campaign, Child's Rights Campaign, Participation Campaign…),
UNDP, UNFPA, ESCWA, HERU (American University of Beirut).... He worked many times
as a consultant with the Johns Hopkins University in the production of video films on
the Reproductive Health issues in Arab countries (Yemen, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco,
Jordan…). Mr. Mattar is also an advertising video film's producer and director. Mr.
Mattar has been the director of an institute specialized in drama and audiovisual
studies, “IESAV” at the Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon for 8 years. He is
nowadays the director of the Monnot Theatre in Beirut, Lebanon.
Omar Rajeh (Artistic Director Maqamat Dance Theatre/ Founder of Bipod-Beirut International Platform of Dance –
Lebanon)
Omar Rajeh, choreographer, dancer, and artistic director of Maqamat Dance Theatre,
studied at the Lebanese University (diploma in Theatre Arts), and at the University of
Surrey, England (MA Dance Studies).
Since 2004, he has been the founder & artistic director of projects such as:BIPODBeirut International Platform of Dance, an International Dance Festival, Masahat, a
regional network between Syria, Jordan and Palestine, “ Leymoun- Arab Dance
Platform”, an international showcase for artists from the Arab World: , “ Maqamat
Dance House”, an international residency space and dance school and Takween- Beirut
Contemporary Dance School, an intensive international program for young performers.
Rajeh is considered to be the founder of a contemporary dance scene in Beirut.
Through his artistic work he has made an essential and significant contribution to its
establishment, sustainability, and progress. Seeking an extraordinary physical and
powerfully moving dance performances, in his choreographies he deals with everyday
questions, concerns, and perceptions in a fascinating and captivating way. Continuously
questioning the individual presence and the physicality of ʻthe bodyʼ within a sociopolitical and human context, his work, intense and powerful, pushes the boundaries of
dance in Lebanon and communicates mixed feelings of sarcasm, sorrow, and ʻchangeʼ,
as one spectator once said. For the past 11 years His work has toured throughout the
Arab World and Europe, in addition to Canada and Korea.
20
Nagy Souraty (Director Al Madina Theatre – Lebanon)
Nagy Souraty was born in Beirut. He obtained his Masters of Arts in "Drama & Theatre
Studies" from Royal Holloway-University of London in 1998. He is also a graduate in
Communication Arts from the BUC/LAU (1992, major: Radio, TV & Film / minor: Theatre).
Director & actor, he has also been teaching since 1992. Known as the Didaskalos.
He taught at the Lebanese American University between 2001 & 2011, where he directed
every year a Major Theatre Production. These productions have been acknowledged by
the press & the audiences to have taken theatre at the LAU to the level of the
professional scenes. He is coordinator of the artistic education at the Collège Protestant
Français where he is responsible for the Theatre & Audiovisual options as part of the
French Baccalaureate (emphasis that has been implemented by himself in Lebanon &
the Middle East since 1992). He is also Artistic Consultant & member of the board at the
Al Madina Theatre in Beirut.
Organizer of theatre workshops, he participated in many festivals & residences of artists
(London, Avignon, Beirut, Tunis, Damascus, Cannes, Vienna...).
After having directed on stage texts written by Sartre, Pirandello, Kafka, Shaffer &
Camus; he explored since 1998 only with texts written by living authors: Etel Adnan,
Philippe Ducros, Richard Millet, David Rudkin, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Michel Azama,
Nasri El Sayegh... all in the realm of collective creations.
His experimentation in the theatre is nowadays institutionalized & recognized as
THEATRE OF THE EDGE.
Hala Chahine (Director Beiteddine Art Festival – Lebanon)
Hala Chahine is a graduate in Political Sciences and Business Administration from the
University of St. Joseph, Beirut. Hala joined Tele Management (The marketing arm of
the Lebanese TV), as a head of the Marketing and Promotion Department. She then
shifted from Media to advertising, and joined Impact-BBDO and Public-Graphics –at the
Beirut head office as Account Director responsible for the Japanese market. Hala joined
the Citibank Gulf as Vice President of the Marketing Department. From 2004 until
2006, she became the director of Corporate Affairs of the Dubai Investment Group
based in the UAE. Hala Chahine is the Director of the Beiteddine Art Festival.
21
Cultural Beirut
The Atelier aims to connect festival managers and lecturers with the hosting city/country and its cultural life. Beirut
Throughout the 7-day programme the following venues will be visited:
Al Bustan Festival
President: Myrna Bustani
The Al Bustan Festival was founded in 1994. The founders wished to revive the
cultural life of a country re-emerging after seventeen years of war. The Festival
has indeed reached its objective, presenting each year more than thirty
performances over a five week period in February and March. With a
predominance of chamber music, the Festival also includes opera, orchestral
concerts, choral concerts, dance, marionettes and theatre. The Festival takes
special care in presenting each year a rich and homogeneous programme focused
around a special theme, celebrating the culture of a country or a city, or exploring
a special subject. In keeping with its cultural vocation, the Festival organises
master classes and workshops, with the participating artists at the National
Conservatoire in Beirut and other institutions across Lebanon. The Festival has
commissioned works by contemporary composers such as John Taverner, Naji
Hakim and Roxanna Panufnik. A Visual Art exhibition is organised each year during
the Festival. The Al Bustan Festival is a member of EFA.
http://www.albustanfestival.com
+961-4-972980/1/2 (Beit Mery
office)
+44-207-937 2633 (London office)
Ashkal Alwan
Director: Christine Tohme
Ashkal Alwan is a platform for the creation and exchange of artistic practices. As
non-profit, the association is committed to education, production, support and
circulation of creative and intellectual endeavours rooted in an engagement with
civil society. The Lebanese Association for Plastic Arts, Ashkal Alwan was founded
in 1994 by Christine Tohme (Curator), Marwan Rechmaoui (Artist), Rania Tabbara
(Graphic Designer and Interior Designer), Mustapha Yamout (Cultural Events
Organizer) and Leila Mroueh (Communications Director). Initially, Ashkal Alwan
promoted and introduced the work of artists who have been engaged in critical
art practices within the context of post-war Lebanon. The association was duly
incorporated in Lebanon in compliance with the Lebanese Associations Law, and
registered by the Lebanese Ministry of Interior on June 8th, 2006 under decree
no. 249/ad. Ashkal Alwan continues its work through an emphasis on education.
22
www.ashkalalwan.org
+961 (0) 1 423 879
Baalbeck International Festival
President : Nayla de Freige
Director: Maya Halabi
The Baalbeck International Festival is the oldest cultural event in the Middle East.
In 1956, the President of the Lebanese Republic, Camille Chamoun, officially
announced the creation of the Festival which became an official government
institution managed by benevolent members with the mission of promoting the
cultural and touristic life of Lebanon and nurturing an enticing artistic
environment of cross-cultural exchange as well as providing the setting for
innovative works by local and regional artists and acclaimed international
performers. In 1966, the Festival started a drama school to promote Lebanese
works for the stage confirming the Baalbeck International Festival's role as patron
of the arts. The diversity of its programming has contributed to Lebanon's cultural
reputation as a beacon which shines worldwide. The festival became an annual
event that takes place from early July to the end of August in Baalbeck, a city
steeped in history and contributes to a better Lebanon so as to spread the
Lebanese cultural and touristic image around the world.
www.baalbeck.org.lb
+961 1 373150 /1/2
Beirut Art Centre
Co-Directors: Sandra Dagher & Lamia Joreige
Beirut Art Centre (BAC) is a non-profit association, space and platform dedicated
to contemporary art in Lebanon. The aim of the centre is to produce, present and
promote local and international contemporary art and cultural practice in a
structure that is open and active throughout the year. The centre constitutes a
public space that makes art accessible to a large and growing audience of
residents and visitors alike, who will be able to engage with rich and diverse
range of contemporary art and cultural practice. Along with its main exhibition
space, BAC includes a screening and performance room, a mediatheque and a
bookshop. BAC will also organise regular activities such as lectures, concerts,
performances, video projections and workshops.
Beiteddine Palace
Director: Dr. Mounir Attallah
The Beiteddine Palace is a masterpiece of the early 19th century Lebanese
architecture built by Emir Bechir Chehab II on a headland, which overlooks a
terraced mountainside. It lies 45 km southeast of Beirut and is situated 900
meters above sea level.
Built around a small Muslim-Druze hermitage, the Palace, is a composite work,
conceived by Italian architects and carried out by the finest artists and craftsmen
from the whole region. Although an oriental palace in its layout, Beiteddine also
draws on all traditional forms of Lebanese architecture and fits perfectly with its
mountainous surroundings. The edifice is enriched by glorious gardens.
The Beiteddine Palace, with its vast courtyard and beautiful fountains, ochre
stone and perfectly geometrical arcades, is a wonderful sight to behold.
The Palace is the summer residence of the President of the Lebanese Republique.
23
www.beirutartcenter.org
+961 (0) 1 397 018
Beirut Chants Festival
Founder and President: Micheline Abi Samra
Director: Toufic Maatouk
Beirut Chants is an annual festival that takes place on the evenings of the 1st to
23rd December in the historical churches of the central district of Beirut and its
surroundings. Celebrating Christmas, the Festival attracts large crowds, in excess
of 20,000 persons from all over Lebanon. The Beirut Chants program includes
choral, sacred music, chamber and philharmonic orchestra performances and
appearances by international soloists. For 23 evenings, Beirut Chants revives
spiritual and ethnic musical traditions about the Nativity. Various national and
international artists have collaborated on the Festival lineup such as La Scala,
Notre Dame University Choir, The Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, Abeer
Nehme, Jeff Cohen and Abdel Rahman el Bacha. The 2014 Beirut Chants seventh
season brings in a novel tapestry of vocal and instrumental performances, some
for the first time in Lebanon. Established and emerging Lebanese and
international artists will spread musical traditions, sharing the festive spirit in the
many beautiful and historical churches
www.beirutchants.com
Beirut Spring Festival
Director: Randa Asmar
The Beirut Spring Festival", created and launched in 2009 by the Samir Kassir
Foundation, is inspired by the title of one of the last articles written by Samir
Kassir, shortly before his assassination in 2005. This event, targeting the broad
general public, is unique both in its concept and program.The goals of the Festival
and its particular character have generated such a warm welcome from the
public. The Festival is the first of its kind in Beirut. The Festival features
multidisciplinary international performances (theater, music, dance,
conferences...) revolving around the themes of tolerance and cultural diversity,
especially in societies facing violence and injustice. The Festival features exclusive
one-night performances scheduled over a week in different venues across Beirut.
The Festival supports contemporary art creation and energizes Lebanon’s cultural
and artistic life, built on the belief that art is the ultimate way to tolerance. The
Festival thrives on the young generation’s interest in maintaining ties with the
vision and thoughts of Samir Kassir. The free admission to the Festival provides all
categories of the Lebanese society with unrestricted access to original, noncommercial art works.
24
www.beirutspringfestival.org
+961-1-397331
Caracalla Dance Theatre
Director : Yvan Caracalla
Artistic director: Alissar Caracalla
Caracalla is an internationally-acclaimed dance company and has built their own
bridge between East and West. Indeed, “Zayed and The Dream” culminates in
100 artists taking their place on the stage, bringing together performers from
China, Spain, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates. Caracalla's own story is
equally amazing; training against the hostage situation of the 1980s, thriving
despite the turmoil of the Lebanese War, where all conflicting political factions
found a common unity and came together in agreement that Caracalla is the
cultural image of Lebanon and the Arab world. Caracalla is now working with
companies and performers from across the world to take their place as the
leading dance company in the Middle East and recognized on the international
stage.
www.caracalladance.com
Collectif Kahraba
Co-Director: Aurelien Zouki
The Collective Kahraba is a theater company consisting of artists from different
backgrounds, which have been engaged in the artistic life of Lebanon for four
years. It creates shows, events, encounters with the priority of mobility (regional
and international), the exploration of various forms (theatre, puppetry, dance,
contemporary writings, video ...) and the realisation of friendly artistic moments.
Since its inception in 2006, the Collective has produced several shows:
"Arabiyetna", "Voices in the Dark", "That can remember but that does not
repeat", "Apple Crumble", "Ken fi Asfour chajara "," Sab'a w 7 "," el bahr Chrebt
my wo ntafa nari. "
25
collectifkahraba.org/le-collectif
+96-11- 442-770
Irtijal Festival
Director: Sharif Sehnaoui
Ongoing since 2001, Irtijal is presently the oldest music festival of the city of
Beirut, and one of the longest standing international festivals of post-war
Lebanon. Irtijal is organized by MILL, a non-profit association founded in 2000 by
musicians Mazen Kerbaj and Sharif Sehnaoui, with the intent of promoting
contemporary and experimental practices in music, and assisting projects that do
not fit within the Lebanese mainstream, yet still present undeniable artistic value.
The 20th century has witnessed a strong worldwide spread of new and alternative
musical styles, which in turn constitute an important aspect of the historical
evolution of music as an art form. MILL was created to boost and support these
practices in Lebanon: free improvisation, free jazz, contemporary classical music,
post-rock, experimental electronic music, sound-art as well as many other
attempts to explore new and uncharted territories in sound, including within the
realm of traditional Arabic music. In the same manner, and thanks to the
importance of Beirut on the cultural map of the Arab world, we strive to extend
these ideas to neighboring Arab countries. With a keen eye on these practices,
Irtijal is a yearly meeting that focuses on presenting works by both local and
foreign artists, all the while encouraging interaction between them. The festival
does not confine itself to any specific style or genre of music, but rather tries to
advocate an experimental and innovative approach to each and every genre it
showcases. Irtijal has achieved considerable growth during its 15 years of
existence, going from a one-day festival in 2001 to 4-6 days since 2003; the
number of concerts has grown from 4 to 20, while that of international guest
artists from 5 to 30. Over the past 15 years Irtijal has unquestionably inscribed
itself as the main annual event for new and innovative music in the Lebanese
artistic scene, and is rightly considered as the largest structure of its kind in the
Arab world.
www.irtijal.org
Maqamat Dance Theatre
Director: Omar Rajeh
Maqamat Theatre Dance is a Lebanese contemporary dance company that aims
at establishing a platform for innovation, experimentation, and continuous
development of contemporary dance culture in Lebanon and the Region. Through
introducing new ideas and concepts of dance and ‘the body’, the company
anticipates a new phase of artistic and social productivity, creativity,
modernization, and free expression.
www.maqamat.org
+961-134-3834
Metro Al Madina
Director: Hisham Jaber
1.
A cabaret like no cabaret in Beirut, like no metro station in the world. Metro Al
Madina comes in two spaces:
The Metro Station: A café-bar with a subway station flare that opens From Monday
till Saturday at 6 PM with a DJ booth. The food menu offers a variety of snacks,
beverages and a menu of flavourful salads, sandwiches and other lip-smacking
fusions. The Metro Hall: Where all the varied concerts and cultural events happen.
Also, Metro has its own Cabaret Show: a night filled with various acts and
performances – ranging from music, theatre, dance to satire and stand up-comedy
introduced by a Master of Ceremonies (MC).
26
http://metromadina.com
+9611753021
Mir Amin Palace Hotel
Director: Toni Gerges
Mir Amin Palace Hotel, is the former residence of the last Emirs of Lebanon, the
Palace is one of Beiteddine’s historical landmarks. Located 45 km from Beirut,
Mir Amin Palace Hotel offers 19th century splendour with spacious courtyards,
flowing fountains and terraced landscape. It overlooks the mountainside with its
awe-inspiring scenery.
www.miraminpalace.com
+ 961 5 / 501315 –501318
SHAMS: Khayal Association for Arts and Education Sunflower Theatre
Director: Karim Dakroub
In 2004, a number of artists got together and founded the KHAYAL Cooperative
Lebanese Association for Arts & Education as the extension and expansion of the
Lebanese Puppet Theatre experience. Due to difficult circumstances in Lebanon at
the time, the Lebanese Puppet Theatre had found itself collaborating with local and
international associations on artistic and theatrical projects with more social and
educational applications. In time, this initiative started making an impact on the
community, both economically and socially. It soon became apparent that these
new projects transcended the scope of the Lebanese Puppet Theatre, opening a
wide window of opportunity for the artists and activists involved.This is where
KHAYAL came in to take charge of those new responsibilities and develop this field
with the purpose of promoting the Arts for social, educational and developmental
purposes in parallel with the association’s resolve to continue developing artistic
research and creativity. The name “KHAYAL” has a two-fold meaning in Arabic:
“imagination” and “shadow”. This choice of name suited the association very well,
both because it describes the association’s creative approach and because shadow
theatre is one of the primary forms in the Arab traditional theatre. The work of the
Lebanese Puppet Theatre remains an integral part of KHAYAL’s activities, with a
special emphasis on quality and creativity in its productions. The Lebanese Puppet
Theatre is also the organiser of the Mediterranean Puppet Festival (now renamed
Puppets in Caravan), an international festival held every 2 years.
www.khayalart.org
+961 (0)1 391 290
Theatre Monnot
Director: Paul Mattar
“Theatre Monnot” is a private theatre that participates actively in the Lebanese
cultural life since 1997, and staging both in French and in English. This private
theatre is one of the most active theaters in the country with around 60
performances a year, staging international and local plays, dance, concerts,
readings and movie festivals. Also a university Theatre, Theatre Monnot is a real
launching pad for young talents. It hosts different troops from all around the world
(Egypt, Syria, Switzerland, Canada, Greece,…) in various disciplines: theatre, tale,
concerts, dance, cinema, video, exhibitions, and conferences. Theatre Monnot is a
place keen on exchanges, in one of the most lively areas of Beirut.
27
www.usj.edu.lb/monnot
+96-11-20-24-22
Villa Linda Sursock
Contact person: Nina Al Atrache
With its intricate woodwork, its delicately crafted ceilings and oriental arches, this
19th century palace draws on all traditional forms of Lebanese architecture. Located
on the prestigious Sursock street, in the heart of Beirut, the venue hosts only the
most glamorous events. The Linda Sursock Villa is a famous landmark in the city.
Zico House
Director: Mustapha Yamout
In 1999, Beirut was selected to be the Cultural Capital of the Arab World; this was
when Zico House, the civil society organisation for culture and development, was
officially born. Zico’s home was increasingly associated with the arts and soon, by
word of mouth, it became the place where cultural events took place. The whole
building became a house for ecological, social, youth and cultural organisations.
Since 1999, around 250 activities have been hosted in Zico House such as:
exhibitions, poetry readings, installations, storytelling, debates, video screenings,
dance performances, theatre plays, concerts, ciné-club, workshops, etc... The
impact of Zico House as a centre for artistic creativity and experimentation is not
only due to the quality of the works and innovative ventures, but to its unique
cultural atmosphere and a constant inflow of people and ideas. The cultural
endeavour initiated by Zico was to support both artistic creations and development
work by civil society organisations, all conjoined in the same place: experimental
artwork, students’ projects, small theatre rehearsals, painting exhibitions, sitespecific installations, as well as providing a space for social development projects,
social associations and civic institutions. Zico House’s aim has always been to
become a notable cultural center and to date, no other such multi-faceted centre
exists in Lebanon.
28
www.zicohouse.org
+961 1 746 769
Zoukak Theatre Company and Cultural Association
Directors: Omar Abi Azar, Lamia Abi Azar, Danya Hammoud, Maya Zbib
Zoukak Theatre Company and Cultural Association, formed in 2006, is a platform for
research in theory and practice with the aim to create interrelated languages of
performance between us, company members or with our collaborators. Zoukak’s
methodology of creation is based on a freedom of individual propositions where its
input is hybrid and interchangeable. Work ranges from solo performance, group
projects, workshops, independent investigations, to participatory performances
with psychosocial components, with an emphasis on audience interaction, positing
the viewer as an active agent in the developmental process. The association
facilitates workshops from international artists, supporting and expanding a
network of diverse practitioners. This sustains their mission of developing a
dialogue of exchange and sharing of experiences, in order to create a pulsating web
of artistic creation in the country, and to provide local students and practitioners
with a space to learn and to share skills and creativity. This space was concretised
with Zoukak's studio, serving in part as a free access rehearsal place for local
practitioners. In addition to artistic work, Zoukak Company is interested in applying
theatre on various levels: social, psychological, and educational. The Company has
developed a special approach to drama therapy and applies techniques of theatre
in a context of learning, giving workshops and training sessions in different
Lebanese regions and in various contexts, in collaboration with local and
international organisations.
29
www.zoukak.org/index.php
+961 1 746 769
Participants
Malavika Anderson
Festival of Ideas
University of Cambridge
Trumpington Street 6
Cambridge CB21RP
United Kingdom
Cornelia Anhaus
ARGEkultur Salzburg
Ulrike-GschwandtnerStrasse 5,
5020 Salzburg
Austria
[email protected]
[email protected]
Eric Arellano
Gamlestaden Jazz Festival
Postbox 13086
Gothenburg 40252
Sweden
Duncan Ballantyne
Highlight Arts
East Renfrewshire
G42 8RU
Scotland
United Kingdom
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sjoerd Bootsma
Leeuwarden Cand. EU Capital
of Culture 2018
[email protected]
Laura Boswell
UK Young Artists
c/o 1.15a Clephan Building, De
Montfort University
LE2 7DR, Leicester
United Kingdom
[email protected]
Lauren Clelland
Victoria Street 57
Kelvin Grove
Brisbane, 4059 Queensland
Australia
[email protected]
Joshua Delladonne
One Yellow Rabbit
215 13TH avenue SW Unit 1505
Calgary, AB,
Canada
[email protected]
Cristina Bodnarescu
Colectiv A Association,
Henri Barbusse Street 59-61,
400616, Cluj Napoca
Romania
[email protected]
Cecilia Suhaid Gustafsson
Atalante
Ovre Husargatan 1
41122 Göteborg,
Sweden
[email protected]
30
Maya Halabi
Baalbeck International Festival
Riad el Solh 11-4215
Beirut,
Lebanon
Noomi Hedlund
Dalhalla Opera
Litorinavägen 22
181 66, Lidingö
Sweden
[email protected]
[email protected]
Satu Herrala
Baltic Circle
Tunturikatu 16,
00100 Helsinki,
Finland
Carolin Hochleichter
Berliner Festspiele / Foreign
Affairs
Schapstrasse 24
10719 Berlin
Germany
[email protected]
[email protected]
Yvonne Jila
Women Filmmakers of
Zimbabwe
Winderemere Close 9,
Helensvale, Harare,
Zimbabwe
Stella Soffia Johannesdottir
Reykjavik International Literary
Festival
Sturlugötu 5,
101 Reykjavik,
Iceland
[email protected]
[email protected]
Martin Kadinov
ON! Fest // Gaming
Entertainment LTD
Slavekyov square 1V, floor 3,
1000 Sofia
Bulgaria
Jihae Samantha Kim
Geumjeong street 143-2
609-837 Geumjeong-gu Busan
S. Korea
[email protected]
[email protected]
Jelena Kneževic
Bitef (Belgrade International
Theatre Festival)
29:I Terazije Street
11000 Belgrade
Republic of Serbia
Tomas Kutinjač
BLITZ International Performing
Arts Festival
Trg brodogradilišta 5
52210, Rovinj
Croatia
[email protected]
[email protected]
31
Francesco Leonardi
Associazione Musicale Jubilate
– IFCM
Via Abruzzi 19,
20025 Legnano
Italy
Toufic Maatouk
Beirut Chants Festival
Building 150, Saad Zaghloul
Street,
Beirut P.O. Box 119493
Lebanon
[email protected]
[email protected]
Amani Maihoub
Amsterdam Fringe Festival
2013
Postbus 3985
1001 AT Amsterdam
The Netherlands / Syria
Carla Mardini
Al Bustan Festival
Al Bustan Hotel
Beit Mery
Lebanon
[email protected]
[email protected]
Laura McDermott
Fierce Festival
Unit 57, 27 Colmore Row, B3
2EW Birmingham
United Kingdom
Corinne Orton
Glasgow Film Festival
12 Rose Street
Glasgow, 63 6RB
United Kingdom
[email protected]
[email protected]
Carla Pusceddu
Associazione Culturale
ISCANDULA
Via Perda Bona, 6
09045 Qyarty Sant’Elena (CA)
Italy
Federico Rinaldi
Ghislierimusica
Piazza Ghislieri 5
27100 Pavia
Italy
[email protected]
[email protected]
Emma Rygielski
Gothenburg Culture Festival
Mässans gata 8, Box 29,
401 20 Gothenburg
Sweden
[email protected]
32
Tania Saade
[email protected]
Marta Mari Szypczynska
Asylon Theatre
31 Forth Place,
South Queensferry EH30 9RY,
Scotland
Sabina Sabic- Zlatar
Pehlivanusa 14,
71000 Sarajevo
Bosnia
[email protected]
[email protected]
Rowena Taylor
East Brisbane,
QLD Australia
Emmanuelle Walter
La filature, Scène nationale
20, Allée Nathan Katz,
68100 Mulhouse,
France
[email protected]
[email protected]
Liza Wiegand
Phase 7
Veteranenstrasse 10
10119 Berlin
Germany
Ana Zirner
Dachauer Str. 112d
80636 München
Germany
[email protected]
[email protected]
33
The Festival Academy and its mission
The Festival Academy is an initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA) launched in 2013. This new non-profit
organisation offers various training formats on festival management to young, dynamic and passionate festival makers
worldwide: the Atelier for Young Festival Managers, Festival Readings and a training for production managers.
The Festival Academy’s mission is to share, exchange and construct know-how on festival management focusing on the
essence of festivals – the art and the artist – and touching upon all artistic disciplines. In this way, The Festival Academy
will develop and sustain a network of festival leaders of the future. It empowers a new generation of emerging leaders
(artistic and production) as capacity building and internationalisation are at the Academy’s core. It generates new
professional opportunities for festival makers.
Three training formats
In order to fulfill its mission, The Festival Academy invites cultural professionals to take part in three unique training
formats:

Atelier for Young Festival Managers: a 7-day intense training programme addressed at 45 young artistic festival
managers who are guided by 10 renowned festival directors from all over the world

Festival Readings: a 3-day encounter taking place during a festival with readings by high-level lecturers from the
festival sector addressed at festival representatives working in a broad range of festival departments and open
to the general public

Training for Production Managers: an exchange on festival production aimed at young production managers
The Festival Academy is traveling across Europe and the world and is always strongly connected to the local context in
which it takes place.
“The engagement of the European Festivals Association in allowing life-long learning experiences in the
cultural sector is exemplary. These kinds of initiatives are crucial for the further development of a cultural
Europe. Nobody will be successful by doing business as usual. We need young creative minds for
regenerating and rethinking the future.”
Odile Quintin, European Commission External Advisor, Board Member The Festival Academy, former
Director General European Commission
Academy Alumni Network
In addition to the different training formats, The Festival Academy aims to sustain and further develop the Academy
Alumni Network which has emerged from the previous Ateliers for Young Festival Managers. Today, it counts 264 young
festival leaders from 60 countries and 32 renowned festival directors worldwide. This network ensures sustainability
beyond the training formats: it allows for the development of new cooperation projects and broader networks.
The network is continuously growing with each training programme and results in concrete collaborations, extended
networks and increased career opportunities. The Festival Academy does not only impact on the individual professional
sphere of the participants but has a broader impact on community, cities and society.
34
Atelier for Young Festival Managers: Mission, history, success
Mission and objectives
The Atelier is about formulating experiences and passing on knowledge to a next generation of festival makers:
knowledge about the arts, artists and festival formulas, thematically focusing on the very essence of arts festivals: the
art and the artist.
Kathrin Deventer, EFA Secretary General
The Atelier is especially designed for those who are working or have ambitions to become involved in programming or
in programming related departments within a festival. During 7 days, participants can widen their horizons, broaden
their programming skills and develop exciting new ideas under the professional guidance of renowned festival
managers coming from all over the world to share their rich experience.
The Atelier was a great human and work experience, which helped me to grown my own
idea of festival but also to figure out what I would like to change in my current work.
Laura Martegani, Spielart Festival - Germany
Participant Atelier EDINBURGH 2014
Next to a high-level reflection in small topic based working groups, lectures and debates, practical activities and case
studies, interactive exchanges based on papers that participants prepare for the Atelier, informal talks and contacts
with artists and with leading cultural institutions from the region create an outstanding opportunity to link insights
gained in the working groups with the concrete environment. In Hugo de Greef’s words, “practical know-how combined
with a high-degree of conceptual content in the management discipline is the guiding ethos of the Atelier”.
Key Focus
Particular emphasis is given to the artistic aspects of festival management, including artistic vision, political and social
responsibility in relation to the cultural and artistic significance of a festival in a certain region, a certain community,
but also internationalisation, networking, renewal and sustainability.
The Atelier aims to shed light to the fact that festivals have a strong meaning for the art, the artist and a key place in
society. It goes without saying, that some instruments, such as communication, production or budget, play a key role to
reach this main purpose. These instruments – to the extent in which they are relevant for the implementation of the
artistic programme – are also touched upon during the Atelier.
The Atelier enjoys world-wide attention of politicians and foundations, and the support of numerous governmental
agencies, which confirms the success of this initiative in the international cultural scene. The international dimension
is one of the Atelier’s key features. This dimension has to be present in the professional approach and policy of a
festival and is an essential topic in management training. Furthermore, through this international dimension, the Atelier
encourages a joint reflection on the role of festivals in today’s globalising societies.
Finally, the Atelier appears to be one of the rare opportunities for festival managers to network and to reflect on the
true mission of festivals and on their role in a globalised, fast and result oriented world. For the next generation of
festival managers, it represents an outstanding occasion to imagine innovative, pioneering and creative project ideas
and festival formulas.
35
Presenters and Mentors
Presenters involved in the Atelier are festival directors who are leading or who led festivals; they are (or were) also
responsible for the general running of festivals, including tasks like communication, production or budget. They are
invited to share their experience, their motivation and explanations of their artistic choices in regard of the Atelier’s
mission.
These experienced festival operators, professionals and artists give lectures, lead workshops and take part in round
tables and debates – all of them spending some days with the participants for face-to-face contacts and discussions.
Participants have confirmed their fascination by success stories while at the same time they learn from failures.
The Atelier Coordinator is Hugo De Greef and mentors and presenters include so far:

Robyn Archer (Artistic Director The Light in Winter Melbourne, Deputy Chair Australia Council for the Arts,
Strategic Advisor Gold Coast Arts and Culture Queensland – Australia)


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Norman Armour (Executive Director PuSH International Performing Arts Festival, Vancouver - Canada)

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
Bernard Faivre d’Arcier (President Lyon Biennial, former Director Festival d’Avignon - France)



Agnes Havas (Mezzo Opera Festival - Hungary)

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Tzvetelina Iossifova (Red House for Culture and Debate - Bulgaria)

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Mark Russell (Festival Under the Radar - USA)

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Carla Van Zon (Artistic Director Auckland Arts Festival, former Director Creative New Zealand - New Zealand)
Steve Austen (Felix Meritis Foundation - The Netherlands)
Mark Ball (Artistic Director London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) - UK)
Darko Brlek (EFA President and Artistic and General Director Ljubljana Festival - Slovenia)
Seok Kyu Choi (Creative Producer AsiaNow Productions, Jongno-gu - South Korea)
Hugo De Greef (Atelier Coordinator, former EFA Secretary General, Director European Capital of Culture Bruges
2002, Co-Founder Kaaitheater Brussels - Belgium)
Rose Fenton (Director Free Word, Co-Founder LIFT Festival, London - UK)
Heiner Goebbels (Artistic Director Ruhrtrienniale – Germany)
Ching-Lee Goh (Executive and Artistic Director CultureLink Singapore, Former Director Singapore Arts Festival Singapore)
Gavin Henderson (Dartington International Summer School - UK)
Nele Hertling (Vice President of the Academy of Arts Berlin, Member Strategy Group “A Soul for Europe” –
Germany)
Nevenka Koprivsek (Mladi Levi Festival - Slovenia)
Wai-Lap Kwong (Programme Director Guangdong Modern Dance Festival - China)
Gundega Laivina (New Theatre Institute of Latvia - Latvia)
Grace Lang (Programme Director Hong Kong Festival Society - China)
Sir Brian McMaster (former Director Edinburgh International Festival - UK)
Joseph V. Melillo (Artistic Director Brooklyn Academy of Music New York, US)
Michal Merczyński (Director Malta Festival Poznan and Nostalgia Festival Poznan - Poland)
Sir Jonathan Mills (Former Director Edinburgh International Festival - UK)
Gerard Mortier (General Director Teatro Real de Madrid, former Director Salzburger Festpiele, former Director
Ruhr Triennale - Belgium)
Marie-Agnès Sevestre (Festival des Francophonies en Limousin - France)
Graham Sheffield (Director Art British Council London, former Artistic Director The Barbican London- UK)
Galin Stoev (Fingerprint Company - Belgium/Bulgaria)
Tom Stromberg (Impulse Festival - Germany)
Fruzsina Szép (Program Director Sziget Festival in Budapest, founding Director of the Hungarian Music Export
Office - Hungary)
Matthias Vogt (Institut für kulturelle Infrastruktur Sachsen - Germany)
36
Participants
“Young” in the Atelier’s title refers first of all to the festival managers being “young in the festival business”.
Participants represent a broad diversity of cultural and professional backgrounds – from students in arts management
to young managers working for large established organisations to emerging curators running their own innovative
international festivals. They all share the desire to implement excellent artistic festivals.
Each participant is invited to write a paper in preparation for the Atelier: “Participants describe an artistic project they
would like to develop (a programming aspect of a festival, a new festival, a new model for an old festival, a series of
programming events…), sketch the context in which their proposed project will take place (geographical, regional, local)
and explain the specifications and demands of this particular situation (budget, programme, staff, production…).”
During the Atelier they have the opportunity to present their paper, to discuss it with the presenters and the
participants to receive feedback and to adapt and improve their project.
The Atelier was the opportunity to meet both experienced festival leaders in an intimate context, as
well as the possibility to meet young colleagues. It’s very rare in our specific professional context to
meet so many young people together. To me, that was food for thought.
Tobias Kokkelmans (Festival Van Vlaanderen, Belgium); Participant Atelier GÖRLITZ
Editions
Every edition of the Atelier is characterised by its hosting city and its festivals. The Atelier aims to connect festival
managers and lecturers with the hosting city and country and its cultural life. Participants get to know the facets of
the cultural diverse city and are invited to learn more about the political background of parts of Europe and the world
with a certain meaning in (Europe’s) history by ‘experiencing’ the place. Questions are raised concerning the hosts’
region. Local venues, the cultural sector, political representatives and sponsors are mobilised. Lectures take place in
different local venues connecting to the local community. The Atelier ‘lives’ in the hosting city and local partners really
participate in it (including their staffs and volunteers).
The Atelier has an ever-growing network of ’alumni’: after six editions, 223 young festival managers and 32 presenters
from all over the world have participated in the training programme.
After six successful editions the Atelier is an annual recurring activity that has established itself as a
unique platform for the exchange of ideas, the development of artistic visions and new networks, the
only one featuring such a distinguished group of festival leaders and cultural experts.
Kathrin Deventer, EFA Secretary General
GÖRLITZ 2006
The first Atelier for Young Festival Managers took place from 15-21 May 2006 in the historical city of Görlitz/Germany
(on the German-Polish border) and gathered 33 participants from 20 countries and thirteen mentors and presenters
from eight countries. It was organised by EFA, in cooperation with the Institut für Kulturelle Infrastruktur Sachsen (IKS)
and Theorem, and with the support of the Felix Meritis Foundation and the Amsterdam/Maastricht Summer Academy
and Dartington International Summer School. The reactions were very positive: participants left with fresh ideas, new
energy and self-confidence, and with a new network and vast possibilities for future international exchanges and
long-term collaborations.
The Atelier was the opportunity to meet both experienced festival leaders in an intimate context, as
well as the possibility to meet young colleagues. It’s very rare in our specific professional context to
meet so many young people together. To me, that was food for thought.
Tobias Kokkelmans Festival Van Vlaanderen - Belgium
Participant Atelier GÖRLITZ 2006
37
VARNA 2009
The second edition of the Atelier took place from 26 April to 3 May 2009 in Varna/Bulgaria, hosted by the Varna
Summer International Music Festival and organised in partnership with the Varna Municipality and the Festival and
Congress Centre. It gathered 35 participants from 21 countries and eleven mentors and presenters from three
different continents and ten different countries. The positive reactions of participants and presenters underlined the
necessity to continue a professional and high-quality training programme in the field of festival management.
The opportunity to meet with other festival managers from throughout Europe, to exchange
ideas and experiences and initiate conversations, is an invaluable and rare one.
Emily Thomas, Watch This Space Festival London - UK
Participant Atelier VARNA 2009
SINGAPORE 2011
The third edition of the Atelier took place from 14-21 May 2011 in Singapore. EFA organised this first edition of the
Atelier in Asia together with LASALLE College of Arts Singapore, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the Association of
Asian Performing Arts Festivals (AAPAF), the Singapore International Arts Festival and CultureLink Singapore. It
allowed 34 participants from 20 countries and five continents to meet, exchange, establish sustainable ties for the
future, and to benefit from the wealth of experience of 15 renowned festival directors, artists and cultural managers.
The great success of this Asia-Europe collaboration confirms the need to further extend the Atelier to other continents.
For five years now, the Atelier has planted the seeds for exciting international exchanges
and long-term collaborations amongst the next generation of festival managers,
challenged by a globalised world. This edition has taken the Atelier to a new standard and
EFA is ready to develop this initiative into an independent training programme for young,
dynamic and passionate festival makers worldwide.
Darko Brlek, EFA President, The Festival Academy President
IZMIR 2011
The fourth Atelier took place from 24 to 31 October 2011 in Izmir/Turkey. It was organised by EFA, the International
Izmir Festival and the Izmir Foundation for Culture Arts and Education. 38 participants from 27 countries and eight
renowned festival managers from three continents and seven countries met, exchanged and established sustainable
ties for the future.
Being able to listen to people from all over the world offered me an incredible wider
prospective. We were blessed to have incredibly renowned mentors with us for the whole
week, speaking about their festivals and their experiences. The networking opportunities of
the Atelier are immense and I believe I have made strong contacts, which will help me
building my festival. I found myself thinking less as a European and more and more as a
global citizen.
Cristina Goletti, I.F. O.N.L.Y. Festival - Ireland
Participant Atelier IZMIR 2011
38
LJUBLJANA 2012
The fifth Atelier took place from 14-21 October 2012 in Ljubljana/Slovenia and was co-organised between EFA and the
Ljubljana Festival. 32 participants from 21 countries and five continents and eight renowned festival managers met,
exchanged and established sustainable ties for the future.
We all felt that we have a strong new network here – the seeds of many potential future
collaborations between us have certainly been sowed.
Gemma Connell, Broken Rose - UK
Participant Atelier LJUBLJANA 2012
I did not expect to be stimulated so much, and make such great friends.
Jonathan May, London International Festival of Theatre - UK
Participant Atelier LJUBLJANA 2012
EDINBURGH 2014
From 3-10 April 2014, The Festival Academy (an initiative of the European Festivals Association) in association with the
Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) organised the Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Edinburgh/Scotland. 51
participants from 28 countries and five continents have attended the Atelier together with nine highly qualified
festival leaders from eight countries.
At the Atelier you learn from experienced mentors, festival pioneers; you hear inspiring
stories from young festival managers from around the world; and you broaden your
network. But the unique thing is that you get to know more about yourself.
Mohamed El Ghawy, AFCA for Arts & Culture/
Hakawy International Arts festival for Children - Egypt
Participant Atelier EDINBURGH 2014
POZNAŃ 2014
From 20 to 27 October 2014, The Festival Academy (initiated by EFA) in collaboration with the Malta Festival Poznan
organised the Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Poland. 41 participants from 23 countries and five highly qualified
festival leaders attended the Atelier. In addition, festival managers from emerging festivals in the region contributed to
the Atelier Poznan 2014.
“The Atelier is organised in such a way that renowned festival directors and managers are
mentors who provide lectures, presentations and inspirations to the participants. The
participants also share their experiences from their different festivals. This process
provides a rich interaction and transfer of knowledge among participants.”
Daniel Maposa, Director of Savanna Trust / Artistic Director of the Protest Arts
International Festival / Coordinator of the Zimbabwe Festivals Network
Participant Atelier POZNAN 2014
39
BEIRUT 2015
At the crossroads between East and West, the first Atelier in the Arab region will take place from 21 to 27 March 2015
in Beirut/Lebanon. After the postponement of the envisioned 2013 Atelier in Beirut, The Festival Academy and the
Beiteddine Art Festival are delighted to offer participants and presenters from all over the world the opportunity to
experience the cultural dynamism of a region which is looking for reconciliation and re-building of trust. This vibrant
Arab metropolis offers presenters and participants a unique platform for exchange and debate.
“After the Atelier for Young Festival Managers planned for 2013 had to be postponed, I am
happy to reiterate my invitation to host the Atelier in Beirut, Lebanon in March 2015. This
vibrant and resilient city is the cultural hub of the Middle East. It is renowned for its
festivals and artistic activities, universities, free press and its rich history, as well as for
being a dynamic financial and banking center. Come and discover the cradle of civilization,
and experience the successful encounter between East and West, and between tradition
and modernity, in one of the ten liveliest cities of the world, the city of Beirut.”
Nora Joumblatt, President Beiteddine Art Festival - Lebanon
GWANGJU 2015
The Atelier for Young Festival Managers will take place for the second time in Asia from 31 August to 6 September
2015 in Gwangju, South Korea. Gwangju is one of the six largest cities in Korea, with a population of 1.4 million.
Gwangju is rich in culture and art, as shown by its cultural initiatives such as Hub City of Asian Culture project and
Gwangju Biennale which make the city one of the most vibrant and colourful places in the country, all these elements
will be part of this ambitious project in Korea. The Atelier Gwangju will coincide with the inauguration of the Asian
Culture Complex (ACC), in close collaboration with the Chonnam National University, one of the most prestigious
national universities in Korea and the ACC's Asian Arts Theatre.
“We are delighted to host the Atelier for Young Festival Managers in partnership with
Chonnam National University. Our grand opening festival will provide an arena where
different perspectives and visions can freely collide and mingle. As one of Asia's most
ambitious cultural initiatives, our festival will be a timely opportunity for future generations
of festival managers to question and explore the most pertinent discourses of Asia today.”
Seonghee Kim, Artistic Director Asian Culture Complex - Asian Arts Theatre
40
Co-organisers
The Festival Academy – initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA)
The Festival Academy is an initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA)
launched in 2013. This new non-profit organisation offers various training formats on
festival management to young, dynamic and passionate festival makers worldwide:
the Atelier for Young Festival Managers, Festival Readings and a training for
production managers. The Festival Academy’s mission is to share, exchange and
construct know-how on festival management focusing on the essence of festivals –
the art and the artist – and touching upon all artistic disciplines. In this way, The
Festival Academy will develop and sustain a network of festival leaders of the future.
It empowers a new generation of emerging leaders (artistic and production) as
capacity building and internationalisation are at the Academy’s core. It generates
new professional opportunities for festival makers.
European Festivals Association (EFA)
In 2012, the European Festivals Association (EFA) celebrated its diamond jubilee: 60
years of networking and connecting festival leaders, artists, emerging festival
managers, experts, researchers and politicians from very diverse regions, countries
and continents; 60 years of growth and active participation, artistic co-operation,
professional development and action for the arts; 60 years in which Europe, the
world and the arts have changed dramatically. Europe’s festivals have been some of
our greatest success stories over the last 60 years. Founded by 15 member festivals in
1952, the European Festivals Association is one of the oldest cultural networks in
Europe. Since then, EFA has grown into a dynamic network representing about 100
music, dance, theatre and multidisciplinary festivals, national festival associations and
cultural organisations from 40 (mainly European) countries.
Beiteddine Art Festival – Host
President : Nora Joumblatt
Director: Hala Chahine
The Beiteddine Art Festival is one of the leading festivals in the Middle East. It
takes place in a large and magnificent 200-year old Palace in the Chouf
Mountains.
Each year since 1985, in the months of July and August, the Festival presents
outstanding performances by world famous stars and Lebanese artists.
Concurrent with the performances, the Palace houses one or more international
art exhibits.
Every summer, around 40,000 spectators gather in the Palace’s spectacular
courtyards to attend different performances.
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www.beiteddine.org
+961-1-373-430
Contacts
Atelier Team
The Festival Academy / European Festivals Association (office): +32 2 644 48 00
Kathrin Deventer, Secretary General European Festivals Association
Inge Ceustermans, Managing Director The Festival Academy: +32 495 27 17 24
Ysaline Lannoy, Atelier Trainee: +32 479 61 38 22
Beiteddine Art Festival Team
Nora Joumblatt, President
Hala Chahine, Festival Director
Hollie Ghandour, Project Manager: +961 70782403
Emily-Jane Aouad, Logistics Manager: +961 3 17 39 20
Emergency contacts
Allo Taxi: 009611517030
Police : 112
Red Cross : 140
Fire brigade : 175
General Security : 1717
Hotel
Presenters’ Hotel
Rotana Gefinor Hotel
Clemenceau street
Beirut, Lebanon
T: 00 961 (1) 371888 – 999
Participants’ Hotel
Mayflower Hotel
Yafet st. Hamra
Beirut-Lebanon
Tel: + 961-1-340680
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Venues and maps
1. Villa Linda Sursock
Tel.: +961-5-501315
Sursock Street, Ashrafieh, St. Nicolas
Beirut 2071-7407, Lebanon
Tel.: +961-1-218720
8. National Library Baakleen
P.O. Box 1503–25, Baakleen
Chouf, Lebanon
Tel.: +961-5-304050
2. Ecole Supérieure des Affaires (ESA)
9. Maqamat
289, Clemenceau Street
Beirut B.P. 113 – 7318, Lebanon
Tel.: +961-1-373373
3. Zoukak Theatre Company
1st Floor, Habis Bldg.
Indepandance Street, Ashrafieh
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel.: +961- 1- 218040
Chaghouri blg, 17, 2nd floor, Impasse 39, Najeeb Azouri
Street. Adliyeh 66, Achrafieh. Beirut, Lebanon.
10. Deir Al Oumara
4. Metro Al Madina
Abouna Yaacoub,
Deir Al Qamar, Lebanon
Tel.: +961-5-511558
Sarolla Building, Minus 2, Hamra,
Beyrouth, Lebanon
Tel.: +961- 7-6309363
11. Yacht Club Beirut
Beirut Marina Quayside
Mina El Hosn, PO BOX: 11-6401
Beirut, Lebanon
Phone: +961 - 1 - 762800
5. Café de Prague
Makdissi Street, Hamra,
Beirut, Lebanon
12. The Music Hall
Starco Center, Omar Daouk Street,
Downtown Beirut, Lebanon
Tel.: +961-01-371236
6. Beiteddine Palace
Chouf Mountains, Beit Al Dine
Chouf, Lebanon
Tel.: +961-5-500077
13. Ashkal Alwan
1st Floor, Building 110,
Street 90, Jisr el Wat
7. Mir Amine Palace
Chouf Mountains, Beit Al Dine
Chouf, Lebanon
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The Festival Academy
Sainctelettesquare 17
1000 Brussel
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 644 48 00
[email protected]
www.TheFestivalAcademy.eu
www.efa-aef.eu
The Festival Academy is an initiative of the European Festivals Association
Host and Co-organiser:
EFA and The Festival Academy thanks for their support:
The Atelier BEIRUT 2015 is organised in a broad partnership:
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