Introduction

Festivals have always been spaces where people come together to share ideas, creativity, and community. In moments of crisis - whether social, economic, or geopolitical - they become platforms for resilience, dialogue, and healing. 

The Building Resilient Festivals project was born from this understanding, bringing together festival leaders from across Europe and Ukraine to explore how festivals can uphold civic engagement, cultural diversity, and democratic values in times of uncertainty. This toolkit is one of the key outcomes of that process. 

Developed within the framework of an Erasmus+ Small-scale Partnership in Vocational Education and Training (VET), it gathers insights, strategies, and stories from a nine-month journey of peer learning, mentorship, and collaboration. The initiative was led by The Festival Academy (Belgium) in partnership with Victoria Eugenia Theatre (Spain), with the consultation of Translatorium Festival (Ukraine).

The toolkit compiles and categorizes 9 exemplary festival practices, illustrating how collaboration can serve as a vital tool to strengthen the cultural sector in times of economic challenges, conflict, and war. Featuring case studies and best practices from festival managers selected for the Erasmus+ project, it provides festival practitioners with actionable strategies to enhance resilience, foster community engagement, and respond innovatively to the unique challenges faced by European and Ukrainian festivals.

By documenting adaptive practices, reflections, and collaborative approaches, this resource empowers cultural stakeholders to use festivals as platforms for resilience, dialogue, and community building. It is designed not only for the ten participating festival managers but also for a broader audience of festival professionals seeking innovative approaches to strengthen their projects and contribute to a more resilient, inclusive, and interconnected cultural landscape.