Specialists gather in Edinburgh for European Arts Festivals Summit 2025

Pic Greg Macvean 27/04/2025 City of Edinburgh Council – reception at City Chambers for the Arts Festivals Summit

215 festival specialists gathered this week in Edinburgh for the European Arts Festivals Summit 2025.

Hosted by the Edinburgh International Festival, Festivals Edinburgh, and the City of Edinburgh Council, the Arts Festivals Summit 2025 of the European Festivals Association’s (EFA) welcomed over 200 festival professionals for a four-day conversation about festivals, arts, and the role of arts festivals today.

With 215 delegates participating from 44 countries, it has brought diverse perspectives, questions, and themes forward on how festivals can assume a responsible role towards their artists, audiences and societies in an ever-changing world.

Edinburgh International Festival Director, Nicola Benedetti opened the Summit with a keynote talk on her experience of taking on the role and how her perspective as a performing artist has shaped her approach to curation, collaboration and connection.

Ms Benedetti shared reflections on the importance of holding in balance a deep respect for the past whilst providing a fertile ground for daring innovation, risk and unbridled creativity. 

Delegates heard from a range of different voices and perspectives to gain a greater understanding of the interaction between festivals and their city, particularly in the case of Edinburgh, and explored the different aspects that contribute to Edinburgh’s success story.

They had the chance to meet the network of Festivals that exists in Edinburgh and the eleven festivals that contribute to Edinburgh’s unique reputation as The Festival City.

Fittingly Edinburgh is one of the founding members of the recently established EFFE Seal for Festival Cities and Regions, run by EFA which was developed by seven cities – Belgrade, Bergen, Edinburgh, Ghent, Krakow, Leeuwarden, and Ljubljana – to build on the achievements of the EU-funded Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe – EFFE programme and sets out to build co-operation between cities and their festivals across Europe.

During the Summit, four cities signed up to the EFFE Seal: Nis (Serbia), Budapest II District (Hungary), Coimbra (Portugal) and Tampere (Finland).

The EFFE Seal recognises cities for their commitment to their festival communities and aims to promote creativity, sustainability, internationalism, and resilience through knowledge exchange.

The future of festivals and their place in society focused delegates on how festivals contribute to societal topics such as sustainability, inclusion, well-being and freedom of speech, discussed from the point of best practices, learning from failures, perspectives and innovative proposals.

Inspiring keynotes by Roman Krznaric, author and social philosopher, and Elena Polivtseva, independent researcher and a co-founder of Culture Policy Room, challenged participants to think through the current tests the arts are facing, their vision for the future and the importance of long term thinking.

Nicola Benedetti, Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival, said: “The Edinburgh International Festival exists to spark dialogue and cultural exchange – not only on our stages, but across communities and borders.

“It was a privilege to host the European Festivals Association’s 2025 Summit at The Hub, our home in the heart of the Festival City – where the International Festival sparked what is now the largest cultural celebration after the Olympics, every August in Edinburgh.

“Being surrounded by such a dynamic gathering of cultural leaders was a powerful reminder that the most enduring festivals and institutions are driven by a deeper desire to change society for the better.

“Coming together with our international counterparts to reflect, challenge, and collaborate on how we can deepen our impact was both energising and essential.”

Jan Briers, President of European Festivals Association affirmed: “The Summit in Edinburgh was full of new information, permanent networking, and making new collaborations and friends.

“It was a wonderful edition during which festivals coming from many different contexts discussed the future and its shape.”

Lori Anderson, Director of Festivals Edinburgh added: “Seeing our European festival colleagues inspired by cultural conversations across the city, and exhilarated by the beauty of Edinburgh, has been not only heartening but deeply moving – and reminds us that, in the current climate of global uncertainly, there is so much that unites us and so much to gain from deeper international relationships”.

EFA Members elected their President giving a continued mandate to its current chair, Jan Briers 

Jan BRIERS shared: “I am pleased to continue to chair this wonderful organisation and being elected in Edinburgh is very meaningful for my new mandate.” 

Michael Herrmann, Founder and Director of the Rheingau Music Festival, has been appointed as new Honorary Member of EFA.

The Summit concluded with the handing over of Edinburgh to Budva, Montenegro.

“We are excited about the opportunity to host the Arts Festivals Summit in Budva next year. The gem of the Western Balkans has many things to offer.

We are committed to make sure delegates enjoy a fruitful and unforgettable stay., said Milena Lubarda Marojević, Director of Theatre City Budva that will host EFA’s next Arts Festivals Summit in April 2026.

During the Summit, 22 new organisations joined EFA, reinforcing EFA’s desire to increase the more diversity of its membership and adding to the Association’s relevance at a geographical and artistic level.

New members include Africa Simply The Best (Belgium), Anibar International Animation Festival (Kosovo), DokuFest (Kosovo), Festival Fabula (Slovenia), Festival Música Viva (Portugal), Food Film Fest Bergamo (Italy), I Suoni Delle Dolomiti (Italy), KotorArt International Festival (Montenegro), Maribor Theatre Festival (Slovenia), Oeiras International Piano Festival (Portugal), ReMusica Festival (Kosovo), SPRING Utrecht Performing Arts Festival (Netherlands), Turkish State Theatres (Türkiye), and Vicenza Opera Festival (Italy). Five Ukrainian festivals have been reconducted in their membership, expressing EFA’s solidarity with the country: Construction Festival, Festival of Contemporary Art “Gogolfest”, Kharkiv Music Fest, Odessa Classics Music Festival, and Ukrainian Festival Association “Art-Ethno Fest”.

Three organisations also joined as collective and affiliate members: Creative Island (United Kingdom), the Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centres (AAPPAC) and the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC).

Hidden Door Festive Art Sale

We’ve lined up hundreds of pieces from dozens of past Hidden Door artists for our 2023 Art Sale – the ideal opportunity to grab some wonderful artwork.

Join us at The Hub on Castlehill for our exclusive Preview Night, from 7pm on Friday 8 December for festive drinks and live entertainment, and give yourself the best chance to grab the perfect piece for your wall.

We’ll then be open Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December, 12-5pm, for those in town doing their Christmas shopping.

All proceeds from the sale will be split between the artists and Hidden Door, so every purchase will go straight towards supporting the local creative community.


Featured artists include: Olivia Turner, Madeline Mackay, MaryAnne Hunt, Jill Martin Boualaxai, Kat Cutler-MacKenzie and Ben Caro, Kathleen McVey, Evie Rose Thornton, Isabelle Phoebe, Elvey Anna Stedman, Jo Fleming Smith, David McDiarmid, Matthew Storstein, Jagoda Sadowska, Joan Smith and more.

Superstar students celebrate success as Prize Giving returns at Edinburgh College

More than 100 students gathered with around 300 family, friends, staff and guests to celebrate their outstanding work over the last year, as Edinburgh College’s Prize Giving ceremony returned to Granton Campus on Thursday June).

The event honoured further education (FE) students across the curriculum for their achievements over the year. Students received awards from the College’s four faculties – Creative Industries; Engineering and Built Environment; Health, Wellbeing and Social Sciences; and Tourism, Hospitality and Business.

It was a welcome return to a large-scale event within the College, the first since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

This year’s ceremony saw prizes awarded to outstanding FE students and Schools College Partnership (SCP) students as well as Foundation and Modern Apprentices. 

Prize Giving celebrates the academic achievements and dedication of students, as well as the commitment many have to juggling home life and work to succeed in their studies. The prizes included Recognition Awards, awarded to those who have gone that extra mile to succeed, Academic Excellence Awards and each curriculum areas Student of the Year award.

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford also presented the Principal’s Award to Hairdressing student Harry Lyons, while Interim Chair of the Board Ann Landels presented special awards for Outstanding Achievement and International Student of the Year to Alexander Irvine and Nadia Caimi respectively. 

Forth Two radio presenter Micky Gavin was the compere for the evening at the Hub in the College’s Granton Campus.

College partners including businesses and local politicians joined the celebrations, with some sponsoring awards. Awards sponsors included former hairdresser to the Royal Family Denise McAdam, and restaurateur and hotelier James Thomson OBE, among others.

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “It was fantastic to bring Prize Giving back to our Granton Campus. There was an incredible atmosphere in the hub and it was wonderful to see so many of our students recognised with awards for their outstanding work throughout session 2021/22. 

“Whatever our award winners choose to do next, whether that be continuing their studies, or gaining employment, I’m confident they will thrive and I wish them all the best for the future.”

We wish all prize winners good luck in the next step of their journey.

North Edinburgh Arts calendars on sale now

North Edinburgh Arts raised an impressive £4,500 at their fundraising and celebration event at the Hub on Castlehill on 4th November.
With the sale of further art work and the North Edinburgh Arts calendar (below), the local organisation hopes to have a final figure of over £5,000.  This will be invested in an Artist studio within North Edinburgh Arts.
Details of the expenditure will be available in the New Year.
NEA calendars are available to purchase at reception – get yours NOW!