European Commission Renews Commitment to EFA

The European Festivals Association (EFA) unites distinguished music, dance, theatre and multidisciplinary arts festivals from across Europe since its founding in 1952. The European Festival Association has had a long standing relationship with the European Commission as both strengthen performing arts, and specifically festivals, in the European Union. Over 100 festivals in 40 countries are joined together as members of the European Festivals Association. With this renewed commitment from the European Commission, a 4 year plan is now in place to ensure financial support until 2028.

With the additional critical financial support from the European Commission, this will continue to bring aid to emerging talented artists to festivals who are members of the EFA across the continent. The renewed commitment has three main points that are going to be addressed over the next 4 years: Empowering Festivals Across Europe, Care For and Share the Alliance and the European Platform for the Promotion of Emerging Artists: European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA).

Empowering Festivals Across Europe

The EFA has a good reputation as being the association that ensures professionalism and international coverage no matter how big or small the festival is. With almost every country in Europe represented in the EFA, its members work collaboratively so each festival gains as much visibility not only on the local level in their own country but on the continent as well.

“By supporting local initiatives and giving them an international voice, EFA strengthens advocacy and policy within the Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS). This collaborative and bottom-up approach ensures that festival professionals remain competitive, visible, and influential in shaping Europe’s cultural landscape.”

Care For and Share the Alliance

For the past decade the EFA has been building initiatives in support of cultural differences and the roles that festivals play in this. These initiatives have so far been successful such as the EFA’s RISE project and their Revealing the Alliance project. With this shift now focusing towards the care side of those in the association it is expected to be another success over the next few years.

“The project focuses on increasing accessibility within the festival sector and deepening the capacities of stakeholders. Key activities will include:

• Networking and exchanging best practices

• Providing training and advice for professionals in the festival sector

• Representing and advocating on behalf of festivals

• Contributing to the development of cultural policies”

European Platform for the Promotion of Emerging Artists: European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA)

The European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA) aided over 150 artists between the years of 20221 and 2024, this includes individuals and groups. To be eligible for funding an artist or festival must be from an eligible country (this currently includes the UK even after they left the EU), provide information, and work in at least one of the following artistic disciplines: Architecture, Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Circus, Design/ Applied arts, Digital arts, Film, Folklore and folk arts, Heritage, Interdisciplinary, Literature, Music, Opera, Street Art, Theatre, Photography/ Video, Sculpture, Painting.

“TheEuropean Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA) will continue its work for another four years. EFFEA will offer 50 annual grants for artistic residencies, engaging 50 emerging artists and 150 festivals in joint programming each year. The Fund will continue to address the needs of artists and festivals by developing tools and fostering collaboration between emerging talents, festival organisers, and audiences across Europe.”

With the rising costs associated with performers touring to festivals, the EFFEA’s aid has proved to be essential.

In the upcoming summer months, StageLync is excited to be onsite at several festivals. Stay tuned to see which festivals we will be at and where you can catch our Pro Members performing!

All photos from the EFA’s instagram.

Main photo by: Luca Valenta Phocus Agency

Drew Janine

Live Sound Engineer -EUROPE

Janine has always been a part of music and performing. The first show that inspired her to go into theatre was the Velveteen Rabbit which she saw as a child, and Drew works to keep that magic alive as working behind the scenes in theatre as a live sound engineer. When Drew was accepted into an internship program for audio engineering at a recording studio, she jumped at the opportunity. That was at the start of 2020 and so much has happened since then, both in her career and in the world. Since then, Drew has taken several opportunities to work at recording studios, concerts, festivals, and even large theatres while spending time on tour across the North American continent and Europe. Drew’s favourite by far though has been the chance to work on Broadway and West End shows, as this was a dream come true. Drew is honoured to get to share these experiences from being inside the entertainment industry and hopes to inspire others to continue working in theatre.