Atelier for Young Festival Managers Chiang Mai

The Festival Academy, an initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA), is calling for applications for the Atelier for Young Festival Managers to take place from 1 to 7 December 2016 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in collaboration with Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau. Some ten renowned festival directors will guide 45 participants through the 7-day training programme. Young festival managers from all over the world are invited to apply until 31 January 2016.

The Atelier for Young Festival Managers is an intense 7-day training programme addressed at emerging artistic festival directors or those who have ambitions to get involved in programming or in related departments within a festival. It is about sharing experiences and passing on knowledge to the next generation of festival makers: knowledge about programming a festival, while focusing on the very essence of art festivals – the arts and the artist.

“The true role of a festival is to help artists to dare, to engage in new projects,” is the motto of the Atelier, coined by Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, longstanding Director of the Avignon Festival, President of the Lyon Biennial (France).

Explore festival issues in different formats

45 young festival managers from all over the world will be selected to participate in the Atelier. Around 10 distinguished festival directors, will each attend for at least two full days and work together with participants throughout the 7 days. In lectures, one-on-one talks, group discussions as well as intense workshops on case studies, issues such as artistic vision, public responsibility, creation and coproduction, internationalisation, networking, renewal and sustainability will be explored. Have a look at the list of presenters of the previous Ateliers.

““Gazing from the airplane window on my way back “home” I caught myself thinking the Atelier, for me, was like the first time I took a plane. Full of expectations – you prepare, buckle-up, accelerate, take off, penetrate the hazy clouds and gain clear vision of the immensity of the sky. Feel it, experience it and learn from it.” said Martin Kadinov, participant of the Atelier Beirut 2015 

Join a unique new network

The Atelier counts 335 alumni from 65 countries after nine Ateliers for Young Festival Managers since 2006 in Goerlitz, Varna, Singapore, Izmir, Ljubljana, Edinburgh, Poznan,Beirut and Gwangju. Participants of the Chiang Mai edition will become part of this unique global network of young festival makers which will grow further after the upcoming Atelier Budapest 2016.

Programme details

Dates, place: 1-7 December 2016, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Application deadline:31 January 2016

Procedure: Submit the Application Form; for selection criteria, application/selection procedure, course fee etc. check the Atelier CHIANG MAI 2016 website

Get to know our host

The public organisation Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) takes the lead on behalf of the Thai government in the development and success of Thailand’s MICE sector. Established in 2004, TCEB works to drive growth, elevate quality standards and inspire creativity in the industry. TCEB offers a range of advisory services and attractive support packages to contribute to the success and productivity of business events held in Thailand. Also, the Chiang Mai Convention & Exhibition Centre is one of Southeast’s Asia largest convention centres.  .

For all details visit the Atelier CHIANG MAI 2016 website