European Festivals Association

Mission & Goals

The European Festivals Association is the umbrella organisation for festivals across Europe and beyond. One of the oldest cultural networks in Europe, it was founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1952 as a joint initiative of the eminent conductor Igor Markevitch and the great philosopher Denis de Rougemont. Since its foundation, the Association has grown from 15 festivals into a dynamic network representing about 110 music, dance, theater and multidisciplinary festivals, 12 national festival associations and cultural organisations from 40 countries. The aim of the European Festivals Association is to support festivals, promote festivals’ significance and their important role in international cultural cooperation and societies today. Therefore, EFA seeks primarily to - coordinate the efforts of its members; - facilitate cooperation and co-production; - set common policy; - promote multidisciplinary tendencies; - underline the state of art in society; - act prominently in the (...)