How is it organised?

The Festival Production Management Training is a training format developed by The Festival Academy, an initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA). It focuses especially on production management in terms of realising and implementing the vision of the artistic director. The training looks at the practical side of this process, with special attention given to working with artists. Participants will meet and exchange with experienced production managers and artists, including set designers, light designers, conductors, choir leaders etc. The training is set up as a long-term programme which explores all phases of producing an artistic work: a programme with 3 modules spread over a period of one or more year(s).

  • Module I: a four-day workshop with practical study visits and focus on the exchange of experiences
  • Module II: a practical, hands-on placement at a festival
  • Module III: a three-day concluding session

It is necessary to complete Module I before progressing to Module II.

The programme has been set up to allow flexibility in attending the different modules. Selected participants who take part in Module I can attend Module II or III during a future edition. 

The career development does not stop with Module III. All participants become part of the Alumni Network. After 12 Ateliers for Young Festival Managers, 1 special edition for festival & cultural managers (Shanghai in 2017) and 3 editions of the Festival Production Management Training, the network counts today 528 members from over 70 different countries.

The Festival Production Management Training - Module II - Placements is part of the EFA RISE project implemented with the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.