Wednesday 25th April 2012, 18:00 – 21:00
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Thursday 26th April 2012, 16:30 – 19:30
Cafe Gallery at Creek Creative, Faversham
Tuesday 27th November, 16:00 – 19:00
Arts Admin, Toynbee Studios, London
The seminar was designed to support and encourage UK street artists to break into the European market. Led by two experts in the sector, Mike Ribalta (Head of International Relations at FiraTàrrega – Catalonia, Spain) and Yohann Floch (Head of International Relations at HorsLesMurs – France), this session provided valuable insights into the European outdoor market and the context of festivals in Europe. This session also provided advice on how to get noticed, how to build a relationship with promoters and what are the best networking events to attend in Europe.
The seminars were free to attend.
Speakers Biographies
Yohann Floch – HorsLesMurs / Circostrada Network (France)
Yohann Floch is Head of International Relations at HorsLesMurs (French National Information Centre for Outdoor Creation and Circus) and has coordinated several European studies, including Street Artists in Europe for the European Parliament.
Yohann is also the coordinator for Circostrada Network, a European platform for information, research and professional exchange within the circus and street arts (based in France). He co-chairs the working group ‘Creativity & Creation’ of the platform of structured dialogue with the European Commission Access to Culture.
Mike Ribalta – FiraTàrrega (Catalonia, Spain)
Mike Ribalta is Head of the Department of Professionals and International Relations at FiraTàrrega, Spain’s largest showcase of outdoor arts. FiraTàrrega is held annually on the second weekend in September and attracts hundreds of programmers from around the globe. Before working on the production of festivals Mike worked as a documentary scriptwriter for television and media producer.
Maggie Clarke – XTRAX (United-Kingdom)
Maggie Clarke is founder and Director of XTRAX, a Manchester-based organisation that supports inspirational outdoor performance by running projects, festivals and showcases designed to promote innovative outdoor work from UK and international artists.
XTRAX is also a founding partner of the Without Walls consortium of British outdoor festivals which aims to raise the profile of outdoor performance by presenting and commissioning new outdoor work from a new and emerging generation of UK artists.
www.xtrax.org.uk
Jo Valentine – Motionhouse (United Kingdom)
The seminar covered the following topics:
- The context of festivals in Europe – How many; Programme styles; Balance of UK/International work; Funding
- Expectations of promoters in receiving information from companies; What should artists send; How should they describe their work? What are promoters looking for? Technical information? Photos/video/drawings; Translation
- How to get noticed – Building relationships
- What are the best meeting places/showcases/events to attend
- Role of British Council and other funders
- Opportunity to ask questions
