EFFE Awards 2017

From the many festivals given the EFFE label, 26 Laureates were announced in July as candidates for the Award. They ranged geographically from the Azores to Kiev, from Cyprus to Estonia and in scope from early music to digital arts. The International Jury’s decision was built on national experts’ advice on applicant festivals from world famous fixtures in the cultural calendar to eclectic events known only to a few.

Sir Jonathan Mills reminded the guests during the Award Ceremony at BOZAR on 18 September of the enriching impact of arts activities on our society and their powerful message towards European integration. Bernard Foccroulle, composer, musician and director of Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, joined the conversation saying how important it is to show the commitment of European arts festivals to the dialogue between different artists, cultures, traditional and contemporary repertoire, popular and more elitist programming – and to see a reflection of this diversity in Europe’s online Arts Festivals Calendar. Read Sir Jonathan Mills' entire speech here.

European Commissioner for Culture Tibor Navracsics underlined that, “as Commissioner in charge of culture, I will keep working with all the representatives of the major arts festivals in Europe to make sure culture is high on the European agenda. Together with the European Festivals Association, the European Commission is proud to recognise the work that is done by thousands of people working in festivals as well as the artists performing in them.”

During the Arts Festivals Salon, hosted by the Centre for Fine Arts – BOZAR, festival leaders had the chance to exchange views with one another but also with European and local authorities and partners from the business sector. After receiving the prizes, the guests were invited to a concert by Bernard Foccroulle as part of the InOrguration Festival, celebrating the restoration of BOZAR’s organ.

Governor Jan Briers, EFA President, said, “with an online Arts Festivals Calendar www.effe.eu, EFFE puts festivals from diverse genres at the fingertips of audiences across Europe.” The EFFE Label is the means by which Europe recognises remarkable arts festivals committed to the arts, their communities and an open view on the world.

The EFFE International Jury members are: Sir Jonathan Mills (Chairman, EFFE International Jury – Australia, UK), Tamar Brüggeman (Co-Director, Wonderfeel - Netherlands), Peter Florence (Director, Hay Festivals – UK), Keng Sen Ong (Director, Singapore International Festival of Arts - Singapore), Haris Pašović (Theater director, Director East West Centre, Sarajevo – Bosnia and Herzegovina), Pawel Potoroczyn (CEO of University SWPS in Warsaw - Poland), Renato Quaglia (General Manager, FOQUS Foundation - Italy), Irene Rossi (Couleur Café - Belgium), Fruzsina Szép (Director, Lollapalooza Berlin and Board member, Yourope - Hungary).