Office National de Diffusion Artistique

Office National de Diffusion Artistique

Panel discussions: Should there still be performing arts festivals nowadays?

Tuesday, July 9, 14h30-17h - La FabricA, Avignon

On the occasion of Onda’s partners annual gathering, Festival d’Avignon, Edinburgh international Festival, Institut Français and Onda are co-organizing a meeting gathering several international live arts festivals from different contexts and various scales, to think about their development and transformation facing the challenges of today and tomorrow.

This afternoon included two round tables on the subject of International Performing Arts Festivals today. Click HERE to watch the round tables videos (in English).

 

Weaving past and present: festivals as a reflection of their time?


Panel discussion #1 (2:30pm-4:10pm)


 

Facilitated by: Carolina Bianchi (Theatre Director, Writer & Performer)
With: Emily Ansenk (Holland Festival Theatre and Dance/Amsterdam), Roy Luxford (Edinburgh International Festival), Nayse López (Festival Panorama/Rio de Janeiro).

Tracing the roots of several performing arts international festivals established after World War II or several decades ago, we will examine how this long history manifests in festivals today and what is currently shaping their identity and singularities. 
How has the role and responsibility of these festivals evolved? How do today's issues impact international festivals? Is the longevity of festivals an asset or a barrier when transformations are necessary? 
This round table is designed as a moment for reflection, looking back and envisioning the current times amidst challenges and possibilities.

Click HERE to watch the videos (they are in English with English subtitles).

 

 

Panel discussions: Should there still be performing arts festivals nowadays?

Imagining desirable performing arts festivals for the future

Panel discussion #2 (4:15pm-5:30pm)

 

Facilitated by: Carole Karemera (Director, Actress, Musician, Multifaceted artist, Co-Founder and Director / Ishyo Arts Center, Kigali)
With: Kyu Choi (Seoul Performing Arts Festival), Jessie Mill (Festival TransAmeriques/Montreal), Tiago Rodrigues (Festival d’Avignon), Bochra Triki (Festival Chouftouhonna/Tunis)

As we face multiple crises, we will look at how festivals in various contexts approach the climate crisis and ecological transition, the interdependence between humans and non-humans, and issues of representativity, equity, and diversity. 
How are these profound transformations taken into account? How do they influence festival programming, working practices, economy, encounters between artists and the audience?
Envisioned as a collaborative space, this roundtable will present inspirational initiatives that wish to encourage speculative imagination and envision a desirable future for arts festivals.

Click HERE to watch the videos (they are in English with English subtitles).

 

This meeting is the first of a cycle that will be co-organized by these 4 foundings partners, with follow-up to come during summer 2025 in both Avignon and Edinburgh.