Creative Crossroads: International Theatre Festivals as Spaces of Unity and Resilience

This session brings together leaders and representatives of international performing arts festivals and markets from diverse regions to discuss how they can act as platforms for intercultural exchange, artistic solidarity, and community resilience. Through case studies and dialogue, participants will explore how festivals are responding to local and global challenges—supporting emerging artists, building inclusive audiences, and fostering sustainable international networks in an increasingly complex cultural landscape.

Speakers: Vicențiu Rahău (Operations & Programming Director, Sibiu International Theatre Festival, Romania); Dr. Yeşim Gürer Oymak (Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts / Istanbul Theatre Festival, Turkey); Jørgen Knudsen (Black Box teater / Oslo Internasjonale Teaterfestival, Norway); Maxime Robin (Carrefour international de théâtre de Québec, Canada); Siri Løkholm Ramberg (International Fosse Festival / Det Norske Teatret, Norway); Mazen El Gharabawy (Artist, Director, Founder & Chairman, Sharm El-Sheikh International Theatre Festival for Youth, Egypt); Miriam Prestøy Lie and Torkil Sandsund (Theatre Festival in Fjaler, Norway); Mahmood Sulaiyam Khalfan Al Makharoumi (Deputy Director, Al-Din International Festival, Oman).

Moderated by: Cosmin Chivu, Associate Professor at the Sands College of Performing Arts, New York, USA.

Photo credit: Diana Racz

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Event in English