715 festivals receive EFFE European Label for Festivals

715 festivals from 39 countries have received the EFFE Label 2017-2018 as ‘remarkable festivals’ in Europe. The Label 2017-2018 results have been announced by the International Jury chaired by Sir Jonathan Mills. EFFE – Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe, is Europe’s Label for remarkable festivals initiated by the European Festivals Association.

It is an international festival community connecting festivals that are deeply committed to the arts, their communities and Europe. At the same time, it serves as a searchable online Festival Calendar on www.effe.eu for all international audiences interested in the arts of all kinds.

“The International Jury is convinced to give the greatest diversity of festivals the opportunity to be part of and strive in this new community of festivals. During its deliberations, the Jury was impressed by the immense quality, diversity, exposure of festivals towards the public and their commitment to access and inclusion of all people in society. They also underlined the consistent artistic choices made by festival makers programming both emerging and established artists.” The Jury also “invites the Label holders to join hands for a common movement of festivals stimulating solidarity, the arts, artists, and open conversations.” (find the entire statement on www.effe.eu).

Following an open call to apply for the EFFE Label 2017-2018, hundreds of festivals submitted applications to demonstrate their excellence concerning artistic commitment, community involvement and international/European engagement. 95 national experts, appointed by EFFE’s national contact points, scored the applications and presented the findings to the EFFE International Jury. They were impressed by the consistent artistic choices made by festival makers, programming both emerging and established artists, taking innovative or regenerative approaches.