FIT for the festival

Against the backdrop of a flourishing festival industry and the associated inflationary use of the term "festival", the Theatre/Festivals in Transition (FIT) initiative spent the last two years examining the current role and future potential of festivals in general, and of theatre festivals in particular. One aspect of the work was "the festivals' cultural role in a Europe growing closer together". The material was collected in the framework of eight festivals in eight countries, at symposia, panel discussions and round-table talks, and has now been published.

All festival organisers have to contend with the "deep-rooted prejudice" that festivals are "fireworks, astounding and amazing audiences with sensations, only to immediately disappear". In fact, says Tilmann Broszat, speaking on behalf of all organisers and the FIT network, festivals are "complex cultural performances" comprising more than just the individual performance or presentation. Festivals are "centres of cultural transfers" for opinions, aesthetics and artistic potentials, and should bring new and unaccustomed things to town. Consequently, they do not compete with local cultural institutions. They in fact complement each other, says Broszat: while festivals have "more the function of a lighthouse", local theatres, for example, stand more for the provision of "basic cultural supplies". "Festivals create their own cultural landscape and an environment that is open to art" for a limited period. The relationship between festivals and sponsors, the economy and cultural policy is also addressed. The records of all eight discussion sessions can be found here