Toolkit
Collaborative Festival Practices in Times of Crisis
Toolkit developed by The Festival Academy in the framework of the project "Building Resilient Festivals"
supported by Erasmus+
Embedded Files
Case Studies
Literary Festival Collaborations
(coming soon)
Photo: IDEA Festival - Ahmad Majali
Media
The Atelier for Young Festival Managers - Donostia / San Sebastián took place from 11-17 March 2025, organized by The Festival Academy, an initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA), in partnership with dFERIA-Performing Arts Fair, the Victoria Eugenia Theater, and Donostia Kultura.
The Atelier brought together 47 emerging festival makers and 20 festival and cross-sector experts from 45 different countries for a 7-day program deisgned to foster a global inclusive conversation and critical reflection between festival managers from different artistic disciplines, origins, generations and social backgrounds on the role that arts, culture and festivals can play in a fast-changing world.
This edition was made possible with the support of Open Society Foundations, Erasmus+, the Network of Spanish Cultural Centers Abroad (Red CCE) under the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), Arts Council Kora, and Goethe-Institut Madrid, and many others whose contributions enable our work and have granted participants the opportunity to take part in this Atelier.
Aftermovie by Morgan Creativos.
Atelier Donostia / San Sebastián 2025
Opening Keynote - Is curation a way to explore our common humanity?
Speakers: Priscila Santana (Brazil/US), Ibrahim Owais (Palestine), Princess Sibanda (Zimbabwe/South Africa) & Mac Andre Arboleda (Philippines).
Facilitated by Inge Ceustermans (Belgium) and Thobile Maphanga (South Africa)
We are witnessing a rise in authoritarianism in different parts of the world, limiting free expression and free ways of being. Differences are not tolerated. Populist beliefs and views thrive. Festivals are spaces for expression, for experiment, for diversity, for different perspectives and ways of being to co-exist. Can festivals have an impact on civil society, on people and on their belief systems? Can festivals mobilise people to stand up for a more humane world? And ultimately impact on democracy? What does democracy mean today? We often relate to the idea that “People have the Power”. Why do people vote for authoritarian leaders and against their own power? Why do we believe what we believe? Why do we choose what we choose? What is the role of stories and storytellers in this? What is the role of curation - its origin tracing back to the Latin ‘curare’ associated with actions as ‘to care’ and ‘to cure’?
Video by Morgan Creativos.
Atelier Donostia / San Sebastián 2025
Sharing around centre and periphery, and the importance of a reflection on 'Uncommon Spaces' while spaces for critical thinking and freedom of expression seem to be closing in on us.
What is the 'centre' and what is the 'periphery' and who defines this? What is the meaning of land, territory, borders? What is the relation between 'community' and territory? Do we create in the territory or with the territory?
Video by Morgan Creativos.
Atelier Donostia / San Sebastián 2025
Festivals and Sustainability
Speakers: Amaia Serrulla (San Sebastian Film Festival, Spain), Orwa Nyrabia (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Syria/Netherlands), Isabel Ferreira (Arbola Festival, Spain), Natacha Melo (Educator, Curator, and Independent Cultural Manager, Uruguay)
Facilitated by Priscila Santana (SummerStage Festival, Brazil/US)
Video by Morgan Creativos.
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