‘Serving Artists Serves the Public’ talks about the opportunities and challenges of programming arts festivals in Asia and Europe.
The publication is a compilation of 13 articles on various facets of managing arts festivals and was produced in partnership with the European Festivals Association (EFA) and LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. It is a follow-up to the Atelier for Young Festival Managers held in May 2011 in Singapore.
Among the contributors are Robyn ARCHER, the multi-faceted Australian artist; Hugo DE GREEF, theatre director and Advisor to the Minister of Culture for the Flemish Community; Kathrin DEVENTER, Secretary General of EFA; Katelijn VERSTRAETE, Director, Arts & Creative Industries (East Asia), British Council; and Audrey WONG, Singapore’s first Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) for its arts community.
Their articles are a useful reflection on the social role of local and international festivals, as well as the need for capacity building among young festival managers.
This publication also has relevance in the context of the Action Plan of Culture Ministers of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which recognises the importance of festivals and other major public events in “presenting the culture of Europe in Asia or vice-versa” (2nd ASEM Culture Ministers Meeting in 2005 in Paris, France).
Serving Artists Serves the Public is an e-publication (PDF) and available as an electronic download from 18 April 2013.