THE ASIA-EUROPE CULTURAL FESTIVAL IS EMBARKING ON A NEW CHAPTER WITH THE LAUNCH OF ITS 3-YEAR WORK PLAN FOR 2025-2027.
We’re proud to unveil the new 3-Year Work Plan (2025–2027) for the Asia-Europe Cultural Festival (AECFest)—a forward-thinking plan that redefines how artistic exchange, cultural dialogue, and collaborative creation unfold between Asia and Europe.
Since its inception, AECFest has grown into a unique platform that brings together artists, thinkers, and communities across borders. With this new strategy, we are not only building on that foundation but imagining new possibilities for cultural collaboration that are more sustainable, inclusive, and impactful.
The plan was first shared as a preview during the Bangkok International Performing Arts Meeting (BIPAM) in March 2025, where we introduced it to professionals from across the region. The conversations and feedback from BIPAM have been invaluable in refining our approach. We are now excited to publish the plan publicly and invite broader engagement from our partners and audiences around the world.
At the heart of the plan is a renewed commitment to the festival’s core values: creativity, collaboration, inclusivity, and equity. These principles guide every aspect of AECFest’s evolution—from how we select and support artists, to the kinds of stories we platform and the communities we engage. The plan affirms our belief that cultural exchange must be rooted in mutual respect, openness to diverse perspectives, and a shared responsibility to create more just and sustainable futures.
AECFest is evolving from a showcase festival to a space of co-commissioning, co-production, and artistic experimentation. The festival will actively support the creation of new interdisciplinary works through long-term residencies, mentoring opportunities, and partnerships with institutions across both regions. The introduction of AECFest Camp, a dedicated professional platform launching in 2026, will bring together cultural professionals and thinkers for immersive discussions, workshops, and networking. It’s a step toward not just presenting culture, but shaping the conversations and conditions that sustain it.
AECFest has always been a travelling festival, activating different cities across Asia and Europe each year. Building on this foundation, the new strategy takes decentralisation even further. Starting in 2024, we introduced Opening Events and Closing Events, allowing the festival to engage multiple countries within the same year. This expanded format strengthens our commitment to local relevance, regional diversity, and deeper connections with a wider range of communities across the two continents. At the same time, the new work plan emphasises environmental responsibility, digital accessibility, and inclusive practices. Whether through carbon-conscious planning, enhanced accessibility services, or digital programmes that travel across borders, AECFest aims to lead by example in fostering equitable and sustainable cultural exchanges.
Over the next three years, we’ll continue to create space for emerging and established voices, challenge conventional narratives, and invest in the people and processes that make art transformative. This plan is not just about reimagining a festival—it’s about cultivating a collaborative infrastructure for cultural futures.
The next chapter of AECFest begins now. We invite artists, partners, and cultural institutions to come together and collaborate with us on shaping the next editions of AECFest. Let’s build new connections, imagine bold ideas, and co-create a festival that reflects the richness and complexity of our shared cultural future.
Download the full document here.
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