The conference will include 3 sessions and cover a variety of topics and speakers amongst which:

A session about Musical Life in Belgium: Hugo de Greef
Hugo De Greef is a Belgian born theater director who has been extremely active in the cultural life of Belgium for many years. His career began in the dance world when he produced numerous contemporary shows including those of Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Michèle Anne De Mey, Jan Fabre, Jan Lauwers and Needcompany. In 1978 he co-founded with Josse De Pauw the association Schaamte which later merged with Kaaitheater. Artistic Director for the Kaaitheater from 1977 to 1997, De Greef was appointed in 1998 artistic director of the Brussels European Capital of Culture 2000. In 1999 he was named artistic advisor to the Festival van Vlaanderen and followed the position of superintendent for Bruges European Capital of Culture 2002. He then worked in the office of the Flemish Minister Bert Anciaux and in 2007 he was appointed Director General of Flagey.

A second session European Funding: Does it exist, for what and how hard is it to obtain?
Presented by Kathrin Deventer, General Secretary of EFA (European Festival Association)
Kathrin Deventer is Secretary General of the European Festivals Association (EFA) since 2008. With a political science background and following her work in Genoa, European Capital of Culture 2004, Kathrin Deventer started working at EFA in 2004, year when the Association re-launched its activities in Ghent/Belgium. EFA communicates through facilitating cooperation among its members, engages in training and education for young festival managers, EFA supports research and know-how and plays an important role in advocacy and lobbying activities at a European level. In this context, Kathrin Deventer is a founding member of the European House for Culture; an initiative set up by the European Festivals Association, strategy group member of A Soul for Europe and is actively engaged in various EU- advisory platforms to give festivals a voice.

For our third session : What does Culture mean to the current European Authorities?, it is our pleasure to welcome MEP Marietje Schaake – Dutch member of the European Parliament and also a Member of Committee on Culture and Education.

The General Assembly is open to MEMBERS ONLY and you may sign up in the GA 2010 BRUSSELS section of this website.