EFFEA Call #2: Outtake Seminar

As EFFEA Call #2 comes to a close, the Outtake Seminar was a milestone occasion to reflect on achievements, challenges, and future aspirations. It opened with welcoming remarks from EFA President Jan Briers, EFA Secretary General Kathrin Deventer, EFFEA Chair of the Jury Haris Pašović, and EFFEA Project Coordinator Donika Rudi Berishaj. Kathrin Deventer emphasised the importance of making efforts so that the artistic languages and festival collaborations are heard and more visible:

EFFEA has been not only about promotion but also about fostering a sense of community that needs our humble attention and support. Sometimes it is attention that makes a difference and the acknowledgement of the need for connectivity across borders (...) We know too little about each other. Kathrin Deventer

Haris Pašović reminded us that EFFEA has proven to be one of the most important cultural projects in Europe (see the Opole Recommendations of the European Theatre Forum 2023) - "Festivals, artists, and the incredible amount of people involved in this project have recognised the opportunity, small in terms of money, but big in support of connectivity, for a kick-off of something."

From left to right: Mirna Gott, Colm Croffy, Elisa Morel, Tereza Raabová

In the first session of the seminar, participants heard feedback from the EFFEA Platform Members on the opportunities and needs of festivals and artists working transnationally. The session was moderated by Mirna Gott, representative of the Croatian Composers Society, who began by briefly outlining the role of a platform member: "We inform festivals about all aspects of the project, encourage them, and stay in touch to understand their needs. We let them know we are here to assist them through their processes, connecting them with other festivals and resources." Colm Croffy, from the Association of Irish Festival Events, added "Our role is to advise, communicate, promote, engage, share learnings, and challenge people by asking, 'Why aren't you part of this movement or process?'" Networking and communication from EFA to the national hubs and from there to the artistic community has increased the call engagement. EFFEA Platform Members have adopted various strategic approaches to involve the artistic community in their countries. We heard feedback from hubs catered to festivals like France Festivals and the Association of Irish Festival Events, as well as others that have different focuses, such as the Croatia Composers Society and Culture Matters (Czechia).

Kathrin Deventer and Péter Inkei

For the second session of the morning, Kathrin Deventer introduced the EFFEA Duty of Care Protocol and its essential dual-objective within the EFFEA programme: as an inspirational guide for the festival sector itself to understand the stakes in cross-national collaborations with emerging artists; and second, as a tool to provide feedback to the European Commission and European Parliament, underscoring essential elements for effective cross-national collaborations. The protocol aims to give feedback on what the sector needs and influence the internationalisation of local policies, offering valuable insights targeted at city levels and cultural policies. Péter Inkei, writter of the EFFEA Duty of Care Protocol and Director of the Budapest Observatory of Summa Artium, then presented key insights from the Protocol of the first call, detailing the themes explored by the residencies such as new power dynamics between artists and programmers, fair remuneration and working conditions, inclusivity, arts and well-being, sustainable touring, hybrid presentation formats, digital solutions, environmental sustainability, gender equality, and new business models. The EFFEA Duty of Care Protocol for Generation #1 will be published in September 2024, with the document for Call #2 scheduled for release next year. For updates, please refer to the news section of the website and our social media channels.

During the final formal panel session, lessons learned were discussed from various festival and artist perspectives involved in Generation #2. The focus was not necessarily on the residency content or programming specifics, but more on the broader lessons applicable to future work within the EFFEA platform, programming roles, and artist engagements. Fabulous expressions of understanding and explaining of the possibilities that the EFFEA programme can unlock for artists, art makers, festival makers and their communities were heard.

From left to right: Colm Croffy, Filia Milidaki, Chris O’Reilley, Julienne Schembri, Francesca Ciaralli, Ban Lei, Pepe Garcia, Chrisa Gkouma

One of the things I think this programme is doing inadvertently is growing the confidence of festivals, of festival makers and artists across a variety of peripheralities. Colm Croffy

Filia Milidaki, curator of the Eye’s Walk Digital festival, shared that “welcoming an artist in residence empowers festivals and is a win-win situation where both sides have outcomes in terms of promotion, capacity building and sustainability.” Filia eloquently described what transpired in making the case that EFFEA is now a key tool for art to be free and alive. The residency experience of the EFFEA Artist Ban Lei revealed an unexpected dimension: artist residencies can serve as social barometers.
Creating art in public spaces requires interaction with the local environment, reflecting socio-economic realities and underlying struggles. Filia recounted a venue change during Ban Lei's residency due to scepticism from venue owners about the economic benefits of the artistic performance. "This behaviour, I believe, stems from the ongoing and hidden alienation of the social fabric on small Greek islands facing extreme touristic pressures." EFFEA's support proved instrumental in swiftly securing an alternative, ultimately ideal location. "Having EFFEA's support made us feel more courageous and stronger to navigate these changes."

EFFEA gave me the courage to believe in the things that I trust as an artist. Ban Lei

Residency of Ban Lei, presented by Eye’s Walk Digital Festival in partnership with PASSAGE·Festival & LEME - Circo contemporâneo

After previous experiences in China, Ban Lei contrasted the commercial demands there with the artistic freedom experienced in Europe. "EFFEA allowed me the freedom to pursue my artistic expression without external pressures," he noted. "Before coming to Europe, I thought being an artist required conforming to certain kinds of situations. But when I arrived here, and for example, through the support of EFFEA, the best thing was that you were invisible to me. I know you just from your email and I know someone will support my trip to Greece, and nothing else really. There is no pressure on top of me so I can do whatever I want, even if I just use the money to travel. I think this is cool.” EFFEA promotes and encourages European values and identity, which may not be taken for granted in other parts of the world. Artists have the freedom to express themselves and focus on their artistic endeavours.

Chris O’Reilley, Co-director of Gothenburg Fringe Festival, continued, adding flavours of insights gained from his involvement in both Call #1 and Call #2 residencies. EFFEA helped the festival realise the importance of integrating residencies into their regular programming. Another legacy was that it expanded their understanding of the festival's capacity to support artists during and beyond residencies. Chris and the Gothenburg Fringe Festival team have strived to be producers with the artists rather than just hosts, both during the residency period and steps afterwards.
Reflecting on Sarah Richardson’s award-winning residency project, Chris mentioned, “We aimed to strike a balance between allowing the artist space to develop their work without pressure and integrating them into the festival environment at the right moment.” The project's success not only garnered international attention but also national and local, advancing Sarah's career and enhancing the festival's reputation as a supporter of innovative artistic endeavours. During the second call residency of Zinnia Oberski, the festival strategically included the artist in some festivals alongside the residency: “for the artistic community and the audiences in those cities, knowing that she was an EFFEA artist under our wings, meant that it came with a certain sense of expectation and gravitas positively in terms of ticket sales. And Zinnia definitely didn't disappoint with the performances as well.”
In discussing the challenges of initiating collaborations without prior connections, Chris stressed the importance of preparation and initiative. Here are some pieces of advice for festivals engaging with new partners:

• Cold calls and emails: Do not shy away from cold calling or emailing potential partners. Although it might feel daunting, reaching out through direct contact can open doors. Use connections through FestivalFinder.eu, EFFEA Platform Members, arts councils or mutual contacts to make these introductions more effective.
• Leverage previous experiences: Even if you have not previously worked on a multi-country project, referencing similar experiences can be reassuring to potential partners. Demonstrating that you have successfully managed residencies or smaller collaborations in the past can build trust and confidence.
• Take the lead: Be prepared to take on a leadership role in the collaboration. When approaching potential partners, present a well-thought-out concept and show a willingness to handle significant parts of the application process. This proactive approach reduces the burden on new partners, who may be hesitant to commit time and resources to an uncertain venture.
• Provide a clear vision: While it is crucial to remain open to input from new partners, having a broad but clear idea of the project's scope and goals makes your proposal more inviting. A vague email suggesting collaboration without a concrete plan is less appealing than one that outlines a potential structure and seeks collaborative refinement.

Francesca Ciaralli, Mahdia Festival & Project Manager of the Sabir Collective, discussed their journey involving 15 improvisers from 9 Mediterranean countries across festivals in Italy, Malta, and Greece. EFFEA had a dual impact on their journey: artistic by allowing them to redefine their identity as a group, develop personally, and engage deeply with audiences through improvisational theatre; and organisational by showcasing how artistic collaborations can lead to sustainable project management and robust fundraising strategies across public and private sectors. The experience demonstrated that even small festivals could have substantial artistic and networking impacts.
Pepe Garcia, EFFEA Artist representative of Slagwerk Den Haag, pointed out the expansive networking opportunities facilitated by EFA and EFFEA, enabling connections and collaborations with like-minded colleagues at Wonderfeel in the Netherlands and Stroom in Belgium.
For Julienne Schembri, representing Dance Beyond Borders, the EFFEA experience enabled deep artistic exploration into colonisation and decolonisation themes, fostering intercultural dialogue across European borders. Julienne also referred to EFFEA's role in elevating emerging artists onto a broader European stage, facilitating opportunities like workshops at the European Parliament.
Chrisa Gkouma, Programmer & Festival Coordinator of the Thessaloniki Animation Festival, highlighted how EFFEA funding empowered the festival to support emerging artists like Anna Oikonomou, enabling them to complete ambitious animation projects and participate in international festival circuits.

Overall, the session underscored EFFEA's pivotal role in nurturing artistic innovation, fostering international collaborations, and amplifying the visibility of European cultural initiatives on a global scale. The discussions have laid a solid foundation for future initiatives, emphasising the importance of continued support for artistic mobility, networking, and cultural exchange.
Donika Rudi Berishaj, EFFEA Project Coordinator, and Luana Santos, Communication and Administration Assistant, concluded the morning with strategic insights and the next steps for EFFEA Generation #2.

Reflecting on the journey: in response to an open invitation for festivals to collaborate across borders and build a network of like-minded colleagues, festivals have been engaging and getting acquainted since March 2023, when the call was pre-announced. Daring festivals all over Europe joined hands until the deadline on 19 June to apply for support to emerging artists and their not-yet-known talents. The artistic community activated their own networks or connected with new colleagues through a series of online networking events and conversations. Following the publication of results, over 100 selected participants gathered online on 12 September 2023 for the kick-start meeting, the Intake Seminar. Once in touch, it was time for physical interactions. Since then, they have been conducting residencies that include workshops, masterclasses, and presentations of their work on stages, in cities, and rural areas, ranging from grand-scale to intimate performances. Some EFFEA Artists and Festivals also joined EFA’s Arts Festivals Summit 2024 in Usedom, sharing their artistic treasures with a broader community during the four-day event.

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For more information: Donika Rudi Berishaj, EFFEA Project Coordinator: donika@efa-aef.eu & Luana Santos, Communication and Administration Assistant: luana@efa-aef.eu