The European Fund for Festivals for Emerging Artists (EFFEA) was launched, which is an initiative of the European Association of Festivals (EFA).
This is a three-year project that offers emerging artists a platform to develop their career on an international level through art festivals.
The first call for festivals to support artists is open and will remain open for a period of one month, with the call closing on 15 November 2022.
The Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici, who attended the launch, explained that “Festivals themselves give room for exploration and present themselves as exhibitors of existing talents that are unknown or that are yet to be known. As well as presenting us artists who are ready to take the risk with their originality and innovation.” He added that this fund will foster and allow greater visibility on a European level for emerging artists, as well as address the needs of artists at different levels.
As one of the 14 European partners who brought this project to Malta and Gozo, the Managing Director of ARC Research & Consultancy Davinia Galea said that “EFFEA builds on EFFE (Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe) and is based on the community of 2,450 festivals that have registered on FestivalFinder.eu, which platform makes artists accessible to the general public.”
Commenting on the launch of the fund, the director of Festivals Malta, Ms. Annabelle Stivala, said that “EFFEA is really a great opportunity for festivals in Malta and Gozo that serves as a network and gives rise for international collaborations with other European festivals. For our artists, this will be an experience and a crucial part of a developing international career.”
EFFEA invites festivals from 44 European countries in all disciplines to apply for one of the 50 grants being assigned in 2022. This is with the aim of supporting the work of emerging artists through a specific program between 1 February 2023 and 31 December 2023.
Photo: MHAL
