Today EFA is a network comprising more than 110 prestigious performing arts festivals in the field of music, theater and dance.
The General Assembly is the biggest and most important Association’s forum (an annually meeting and conference) which is held every year in different festival cities. In 2007 the Varna Festival submitted its candidature to host the General Assembly in 2011, the year when the festival will celebrate its 85th anniversary. The anniversary, as well as the ambition of Varna to be European Capital of Culture in 2019, together with the successful hosting of the Atelier for Young Festival Manager in 2009, were the decisive factors in the election of Varna for hosting the General Assembly. The Assembly will be held from 28 to 30 April 2011. For the first time a Bulgarian festival was voted by EFA to become a host of its prestigious forum. This is recognition of great importance and responsibility both for the Festival and our city.
120 representatives from more than 90 European festivals will attend this forum. Getting acquainted with the potential of Varna as a modern European city, they could be involved into support of the initiative Varna – European Capital of Culture. For the first time Varna will be a meeting point not only for artists but for professional managers, having an important role in the development of the current cultural processes. The cultural programme gives opportunities for the guests to get acquainted with the achievements of performing art on a local and national scale, and with the cultural and historical heritage

The conference Out of the Box into the Light on 29 April in Graffit Gallery (65, Knyaz Boris I Blvd.) from 9:00 to 13:00 is open to directors and managers of performing arts festivals. The working language of the conference is English. Translation into Bulgarian is available.

PROGRAM

General Assembly and Conference of European Festival Association (EFA) - Varna, April 28-30, 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

16:00 – 17:30  Work group meetings (board members)

19:00 – 20:00  Official opening at the Oasis Hotel in Riviera, Addresses from:
 Kiril Yordanov, Mayor of Varna
 Darko Brlek, EFA President
 Representative of Bulgarian Ministry of Culture
Kathrin Deventer, Secretary General of EFA

20:00 -   Cocktail at the Oasis Hotel in Riviera

Friday, 29 April, 2011

09:00 – 13:30 Conference of EFA at Grafit Gallery (65, Knjaz Boris-I str.)
„Out of the Box into the Light”

09:00 – 09:30 Welcoming
09:30 – 12:30 „Out of the Box into the Light” –Presentations of innovative projects and collaborative projects by different festivals, Discussions

12:30 – 13:30 Concert by „Dragostin Folk”

14:00 – 15:00 Individual Lunch

15:00 – 20:00 Cultural program „Varna in the spotlight”
15:00   Guided tour of Varna City
15:00   Theater showcase „Folktales” at the Puppet Theater
18:00   Theater showcase „Faust” at Theater Filial

20:30   Dinner at Riviera Beach Restaurant

Saturday, April 30, 2011

09:30 – 14:00 General Assembly of EFA at Riviera Beach Conference Hall

09:30 – 11:30 General Assembly – part one in plenary
11:30 – 12:00 Coffee break
12:00 – 14:00 General Assembly – part two in plenary

14:00 – 15:30 Lunch at Riviera Beach Restaurant

15:30 – 19:30 Sightseeing trip to Alagja Monastery

21:00 – 23:00 Closing Dinner at a traditional Bulgarian restaurant