Mentors & Guest Speakers

Presenters at the Atelier are renowned festival directors and managers, experienced festival operators, professionals and artists. During their participation they not only act as lecturers, but also as true mentors as they engage in one-on-one discussions with the participants. They are present for multiple days, with some staying for the whole period of the training. They allow participants an honest and open insight into their careers, including both success stories and failures.

Hugo De Greef, Rose Fenton, Sir Jonathan Mills and Bernard Faivre D'Arcier, Atelier Budapest 2016

Pool of Experts

Under the coordination of Hugo De Greef, the Atelier coordinator, over 40 experts from the festival and cultural field have participated in The Festival Academy’s training programmes previously.

The presenters for the Atelier for Young Festival Managers Merano 2017 will be published here in due course. Check back for more information, and stay updated with The Festival Academy news by signing up for our mailing list, following us on Twitter, or liking our Facebook page. Have a look at the list of experts of the previous training programmes of The Festival Academy.

Hugo De Greef

Atelier Coordinator, former EFA Secretary General, General Manager Bruges European Capital of Culture 2002, Founder and former Director Kaaitheater - Belgium. Read more here.

Bernard Faivre D’Arcier

President Lyon Biennial, Former longstanding Director Avignon Festival France. Read more here.

Rose Fenton

Co-Founder and Former Director LIFT Festival, Former Director Free Word, Co-Founder of The Festival Academy – UK. Read more here.

Nele Hertling

Member Strategy Group “A Soul for Europe”, Former Vice-President of the Academy of Arts Berlin, Former Director Hebbel -Theater Berlin – Germany. Read more here.