The European Festival Conference (EFC) returns for a third edition of panel discussions, keynote interviews, presentations and workshops, specifically tailored to the festival business. This year's edition takes place Nov. 20-23 at the beautiful Mas Salagros EcoResort in Vallromanes, 25 kilometers outside of Barcelona in Catalunya, Spain.
Organized by Europe's festival association Yourope, the sessions have been developed in close collaboration with Yourope's action groups, including the European Marketing and Communications Group (EMAC), Green Operations Group (GO Group), Take A Stand and Yourope Event Safety Group (YES Group).
The EMAC Group sessions tackle topics such as marketing, sponsorship and brand building, exemplified by the case of famous Portuguese football club FC Porto, whose Head of International Pedro Albuquerque and Head of Marketing Tiago Gouveia will be on site in Vallromanes to address EFC delegates in person.
EMAC Group will also explore the digital journey event goers embark on these days, which begins before entering an event and lasts until after they have long left the site. The question is: how can event organisers target them in the most efficient way?
Sustainability in the world live entertainment is another topic that’s enjoying great momentum right now, and there is no one better suited to tackle it than Yourope’s Green Operations Group, which will also be hosting a sessions dubbed “Greta, plastics & the green momentum.” Featuring one of the most respected player in the sustainable event world and author of the industry’s “green bilble”, Meegan Jones (The Ocean Race). The panel will explore, what needs to happen next in order to follow up on promising ideas and initiatives, which are worthless without action taken.
One of the most captivating keynotes at the last EFC in 2017 came from Matt Thomas of UK mentalhealth charity Music Support. He spoke candidly about the pressures that come with working in the music industry, many of them self-inflicted. The topic of mental health in this business has only gained importance since then, and this year's EFC will take up last edition's thread. Another GO Group presented session called “Sound-Check Yourself,” hosted by psychologist Prof. Dr. Katja Mierke, who is also the co-author of several books on psychic stress at the workplace, will tackle the question of how to preserve (mental) health and creativity in an industry that never sleeps.
One of Yourope’s most successful initiatives, based on the association’s mission statement conceptualized at the first EFC in 2015, is Take A Stand, which encourages social cohesion in society, and promotes awareness and tolerance for all cultures, genders, races, religions, sexual orientations, colours and origins. Take A Stand will also be hosting sessions at EFC. In one of them, Marta Pallarès of Spanish mega-festival Primavera Sound, will talk about the festival's journey to achieving their first gender-equal line-up and „Nobody is Normal“-campaign.
A festival-focussed program wouldn't be complete without also talking about safety and security at events. Like in the previous EFC years, Yourope's Health and Safety Group (YES Group), represented by Chris Kemp, Henrik Nielsen and Andy Mestka, will host highly interactive sessions dedicated to learning and developing skills to deal with any problem imaginable that could occur at a live event.
This year's keynote will be delivered by Tamás Szücs, director for culture and creativity at the European Commission, who will be able to share insights into the current state of the EU's Music Moves Europe initiative, the framework intended to support a healthy European music ecosystem that is competitive, sustainable and promotes diversity.
Those aren't the only session highlights – let's be honest, embedded into the beautiful Spanish countryside, surrounded by nothing but sun and greenery, every session is a highlight. Another must-go is the “Audience of the Future” session, during which EFC delegates will talk to young festivalgoers across Europevia live stream, in order to understand several things: who are the consumers, how to reach them, what are their demands and in what ways does the live industry need to change in order to best service them?
Last, but certainly not least, Yourope aims to create another statement, just like it did at the very first EFC, when Take A Stand was born. This year, organizers are looking to create a mission statement for diversity management at festivals. The goals are representation of diversity at all levels of any given organization, representation of diversity among artists as well as visitors, fair treatment of all employees, artists and visitors from any background, teamwork and collaboration, a focus on innovation and creativity as well as diversity education and training.
And if that's not enough, there's always the keynote interview with a high-level police officer on best practices for keeping large crowds safe, sessions on making festivals less dependent on big-name lineups and living up to the events’ social responsibility, several practical and creative workshops and, of course, ample networking opportunity in what may be the most beautiful EFC setting yet: Mas Salagros EcoResort & Spa. The resort is made available exclusively to Yourope for this event. EFC attendees will enjoy complete privacy, whether negotiating huge deals or treating themselves to a well-deserved Spa.
The EFC package comes with three hotel nights including breakfast and dinner, access to the two-day conference, including coffee, lunch and wifi. Priced at EUR 700 for sharing a double room, or EUR 800 for a single room (plus airport transfers, special activities & beverages), there aren't many reasons not to book now. Yourope members get a discount of EUR 100 for a maximum of two persons. The capacity of theconference is limited to 100 delegates on a first come first served basis.
If you've attended EFC 2017 in Larvik, Norway, you will know that talking business in a spectacular yet intimate setting, while enjoying amazing local foods and beverages, is hard to top. Book your ticket now and experience the unique formula that is EFC first-hand.
Register under: www.europeanfestivalconference.com
Hotel: https://www.massalagros.com/en/
Contact: YOUROPE - The European Festival Association | Phone: +41 71 223 41 01 | E-mail: [email protected]
