Brussels has just announced the award of the EFFE (Europe Festivals – Festivals de l'Europe) label to the Festival Terras sem Sombra, held in Baixo Alentejo, for 2017-2018.
This prestigious brand, created by the European Festivals Association (EFA) at the initiative of the European Commission, distinguishes festivals that stand out, in the community space, for their excellence in programming, their innovative character and the creation of new audiences.
It is considered the most important “label” in the sector, only granted, according to the EFA, to a “top core” of artistic projects.
The decision was taken last week, under the chairmanship of the British Sir Jonathan Mills, former director of the Edinburgh Festival, by an international jury made up of those responsible for the summit of European festivals: Tamar Brüggeman (Netherlands), Peter Florence (United Kingdom), Haris Pašović (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Pavel Potoroczyn (Poland), Renato Quaglia (Italy), Irene Rossi (Belgium) and Fruzsina Szép (Hungary).
Another highlight was the presence of Keng Sen Ong, director of the Singapore International Art Festival, a world reference in the sector.
The jury considered the Alentejo festival “a unique creation, which forged unusual links between a religious institution and a solid artistic program and, at the same time, develops a particular set of actions to promote the artistic and natural heritage”.
He also stressed that, “despite having a place in a peripheral region”, it presents “a careful and coherent programming”.
It also highlighted the “cooperation with neighboring regions of Spain and the strong involvement of the communities”.
Founded in 2003, Terras sem Sombra is organized by the Department of Historical and Artistic Heritage of the Diocese of Beja and by Associação Pedra Angular, based on a strategic partnership of civil society in the region with municipalities, decentralized State services, social sector institutions, companies , etc.
Its director is José António Falcão, an art historian. The artistic orientation is in charge of Juan Ángel Vela del Campo, music critic and professor at the Universidad Carlos III, in Madrid.
Comments