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The 23rd edition of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers took place from 11-17 March 2025 in San Sebastian, Basque Country (Spain), and was organised in partnership with dFeria - Performing Arts Fair and Victoria Eugenia Theatre.

The Atelier offered the opportunity to 47 young festival leaders and curators from all over the world to spend 7 days together guided by experienced festival leaders, cultural activists, cross-sector experts and artists in San Sebastian. The Atelier facilitated a global conversation about today’s challenges and the role that festivals, art and culture can play in these.

The Atelier was about innovating leadership, gaining new perspectives, exploring the essence and impact of festivals in a global context, as well as share and exchange experiences and reflect on the topics that concern the participants.

The Atelier started from the very essence of festivals –the arts, the artist and the audience– and all issues tackled during the training and in one way or another related to this essence, why we do things, for whom and with whom.

We explored how festivals embody the possibility for creating opportunities for change through culture. Mentors and guest speakers went beyond their role as lecturers and acted as true mentors who provided insightful feedback regarding the participant’s current professional stage. They also shared their experiences and showcase how success and failure can incite growth.