Corporate Brochure by EUROPALIA

Mission

Art connects people EUROPALIA has been organising arts biennales, each focusing on a different guest country, since 1969. Its four-month multidisciplinary programme comprises hundreds of events throughout Belgium and in other European countries. EUROPALIA enthrals a broad European audience not only with exhibitions, but also with performing arts, music, literature, conferences and film. This ensemble of events gives an up to date and innovating view on the guest countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art. It turns the spotlight on big names, as well as on talented newcomers. Cultural heritage plays a significant part, but the contemporary arts scene is also generously covered; new creations and interaction between artists from the guest country and from Europe receive particular attention. The services offered to the public, with a special accent on the young, aim to provide insights that counter Eurocentrism. This stimulates open dialogue between cultures in an atmosphere of trust. EUROPALIA festivals bring about enduring cooperation between artistic partners. The projects travel both in and beyond Europe by means of an international network.

Contents

Mission – Art connects people

Building bridges Towards a better understanding

4 7

A festival in the heart of Europe Working at the political centre of Europe We breathe Europe

12 14 14

Working together, creating together Working together Creating together EUROPALIA and its artistic partners EUROPALIA and its business partners

16 18 19 23 23

Creating for the future. A sustainable festival EUROPALIA as a sustainable investment EUROPALIA as a knowledge centre Internationalisation

24 26 26 27

The elements of a multidisciplinary festival A contemporary perspective on cultural heritage A lively contemporary scene Creation and exchange To amaze millions of people An accessible festival Over a million visitors A festival also for the young

28 31 33 35 36 39 39 40

Communications and governance 42 Communications 44 Governance 44 The EUROPALIA team 49

Maastricht 45/25 2015 © Marie-Françoise Plissart

Building bridges

Kumbh Mela INDOMANIA contest EUROPALIA INDIA 2013 ÂŠ Federico Ariu

Towards a better understanding

Building bridges

We believe that cultural exchange and cultural diplomacy contribute to a better understanding between countries, peoples and individuals. Through culture, we strengthen Europe’s relationship with the guest country. We also enhance mutual understanding between people and institutions by actively stimulating cultural exchange projects. We want to promote cultural diversity. Expanding our audiences’ horizons by bringing them into contact with the most creative expressions of partially unknown (world) cultures is quite simply part of our DNA. We want to inspire curiosity, awe and astonishment, and thereby promote mutual understanding and trust. In a highly globalised world, this is sorely needed.

EUROPALIA has been in existence since 1969 and in 2015 we count in – 25 festivals – 35 guest countries – 9 573 events, including 565 exhibitions – 18 120 683 visitors

EUROPALIA JAPAN 1989 © Michel Waldmann

Building bridges

What started out in 1969 as a festival that always focused on a different European country has over the years grown into a large-scale biennale that offers a platform to other world cultures. We have broadened our horizons with festivals dedicated to Japan, Mexico, China, India, Brazil and Turkey, all of which were greatly enjoyed by an evergrowing audience.

– Most visitors have visited other EUROPALIA festivals (75,3 %). Almost half (44,9 %) visited three or more EUROPALIA festivals. First-time visitors are mainly people under 45, families with children, non-Belgians and tourists. – More than 50 % of visitors consider visiting the guest country after the festival.

Hua Mulan Trilogy of heroines EUROPALIA CHINA 2009 © Ministry of Culture PRC

William Kentridge 45/25 2015 © Imaginyou E. Charneux

Building bridges

Lion dance EUROPALIA CHINA 2009 ÂŠ Didier Vandenbosch

A festival in the heart of Europe

EUROPALIA EUROPA 2007 © D’Artagnan

A festival in the heart of Europe

The Belgian Royal Family’s tireless support of EUROPALIA demonstrates the importance that even the very highest echelons of society attach to this festival. Every edition takes place under the patronage of both the King of the Belgians and the guest country’s head of state, both of whom always attend the festival’s opening ceremony. The leading ministers of the Belgian national and the regional governments also attend, not to mention a host of European dignitaries.

Official opening EUROPALIA BRASIL 2011 © Didier Vandenbosch

Working at the political centre of Europe EUROPALIA was baptised in Brussels, and our offices are still located at the heart of the European capital, a mere stone’s throw from the headquarters of many European institutions. Add to these NATO and the headquarters of a series of multinationals and it will come as no surprise that Brussels is the city with the highest concentration of diplomats, lobbyists, journalists and decision-makers in the world after Washington DC. This lends the city its cosmopolitan air and makes it an outstanding place for networking, for example, at the festival’s official opening, which is attended by the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, among others.

We breathe Europe For reasons that go beyond the geographical and the political, Europe can also be described as our natural biotope. Our audience comes to the festival from all corners of the continent. Indeed, in the case of exhibitions, 25% of visitors are from elsewhere in Europe! A sophisticated communications plan encourages both specialist and general press from Belgium’s neighbouring countries (France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and the United Kingdom) to inform their readers and viewers about the festival.

Official opening EUROPALIA INDIA 2013 © Didier Vandenbosch

ICELAND

SWEDEN FINLAND

NORWAY

ESTONIA

LATVIA

DENMARK

IRELAND

LITUANIA UNITED KINGDOM

BELARUS THE NETHERLANDS BELGIIUM

POLAND

GERMANY CZECH REPUBLIC

UKRAINE SLOVAKIA

FRANCE

AUSTRIA

SWITSERLAND

ROMANIA

BONIAHERZEGOVINA SERBIA

PORTUGAL SPAIN

MOLDOVA

HUNGARY

SLOVENIA CROATIA

ITALY

BULGARIA MONTENEGRO KOSOVO MACEDONIA ALBANIA GREECE

MALTA

TURKEY

Working together, creating together

Ai WeiWei & Luc Tuymans EUROPALIA CHINA 2009 © Atelier Ai Weiwei

Working together, creating together

Exhibition ‘The Russian Avant-Garde’ EUROPALIA RUSSIA 2005 © Jérôme Lateur

Working together During each edition of the festival, EUROPALIA aims to showcase the very best of the guest country’s cultural scene. Ideas are exchanged, opinions examined and artistic creations shaped to create a festival that appeals to the imagination and – we hope – enthrals its audience. Mutual respect, trust and understanding are key concepts here.

EUROPALIA also collaborates with leading international museums. The Louvre in Paris, the British Museum in London, the Prado in Madrid, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the Uffizi in Florence, the Hermitage in St Petersburg, the Forbidden City in Beijing and Topkapı in Istanbul are just a few examples of the museums that have loaned works from their collections to EUROPALIA.

Creating together EUROPALIA doesn’t achieve its aims in isolation. A team of curators from the guest country collaborates intensively with us to develop a wide-ranging programme that offers a subtle balance between cultural heritage and contemporary creation, between tradition and renewal, between the mainstream and the marginal. Together with the experts and curators appointed by EUROPALIA, we create a multidisciplinary programme made up of hundreds of events designed to inspire and fascinate visitors from Belgium and the surrounding countries. Thus each and every EUROPALIA is born of a collaborative pursuit of quality.

Working together, creating together

Exhibition Set Up ‘Anatolia. Home of Eternity’ EUROPALIA TURKEY 2015 © EUROPALIA – VS

EUROPALIA and its artistic partners

Working together, creating together

EUROPALIA would not exist without its network of partners, which make their exhibition spaces, concert halls, dance and theatre stages, film screens and foyers available during the festival. In other words, they are indispensable. Many of them are extremely loyal and have been associated with the festival for decades. Partners also have an important say in choosing which projects they programme. After all, they know their audience best. In other words, they are not only indispensable in terms of logistics, but also in terms of content.

Transport expenses take a serious chunk out of every festival’s budget. Luckily, over the course of its history, EUROPALIA has been able to count on the support of a number of national carriers who have undertaken to transport both artists and artworks: Brussels Airlines, Hainan Airlines, TAP Airlines, Jet Airways and Turkish Airlines.

EUROPALIA and its business partners

The Centre for Fine Arts decorated by Niki de Saint Phalle EUROPALIA FRANCE 1975 © Oscar

MAS | Museum aan de Stroom © Museum aan de Stroom

Support from the private sector is crucial to every festival’s success. Without sponsoring, there would be no broad appeal and no unique projects for specific target groups. Without sponsoring, the programme would be less ambitious. Without sponsoring, there would be no all-encompassing festivals like those we have known for the past 46 years. Of course, the EUROPALIA team makes a concerted effort to search for companies to whose strategy the festival could potentially add value. After all, during a festival, a company can substantially increase its visibility, thanks to our national and international marketing campaign. PR events are organised for the entire duration of EUROPALIA, and these offer outstanding networking and presentation opportunities at the very highest level. New economic partnerships often come about as a result of these encounters with Belgian and European decision-makers. But above all, by becoming a festival sponsor, a company proudly declares its association with one of Europe’s largest arts festivals, and thus its desire to position itself at the very heart of the contemporary arts scene. EUROPALIA provides every sponsor with a tailor-made return plan, which responds as closely as possible to each company’s objectives.

EUROPALIA branded plane EUROPALIA EUROPA 2007 © Brussels Airlines

Totems at the official opening EUROPALIA TURKEY 2015 @ Didier Vandenbosch

Exhibition ‘A Rua’ EUROPALIA BRASIL 2011 © EUROPALIA

Creating for the future. A sustainable festival

The Body in Indian Art (New Delhi), State of Things (Beijing) and Venus Unveiled (Ferrara) are just a few recent examples of exhibitions that toured abroad once their run in Brussels had ended. Part of EUROPALIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more sharply focussed mission to mark its dual anniversary in 2015 is to work towards the further globalisation of its activities. Sustainability also means presenting the results of all our efforts to even more people.

EUROPALIA as a sustainable investment

EUROPALIA as a knowledge centre

EUROPALIA wants to create a lasting legacy. Not only in the hearts and minds of the artists and the audience, but also in the artistic fabric of both the city and the country. Works that have been created especially for EUROPALIA are put on display in public spaces or become part of collections (in museums and elsewhere). Our exhibitions also attract public interest after the EUROPALIA festival ends, either in the guest country itself or, thanks to four decades of building up an international network for the festival, in numerous other countries. The same applies to other art forms such as music, dance and theatre. It goes without saying that every festival is also an opportunity to make sustainable contacts in fields that go beyond the purely artistic, such as trade, tourism and politics.

With each edition of the festival, EUROPALIA aims to give both specialists and researchers food for thought. To this end, we collaborate with universities, research groups and scientific institutions. Together with them and with the curators, EUROPALIA publishes high quality catalogues for the main exhibitions. Throughout each festival, EUROPALIA gathers together the best of what the guest country has to offer in terms of knowledge and expertise about itself and makes this available to the EUROPALIA network. Similarly, links forged between people and institutions live on long after an exhibition has closed.

Tea House EUROPALIA CHINA 2009 ÂŠ FlickR2

Internationalisation EUROPALIA actively seeks partners in order to co-present and co-produce artistic projects from each festival in other countries. Musicians, dancers, and writers are offered additional exposure in prestigious venues in other cities; films and film producers are offered the possibility to reach an even wider audience than is possible in the framework of the festival. It is also our objective to export smaller and medium-sized exhibitions to relevant museums and institutions. But not only that: exchange and creation acquire an international component by involving partners in third countries. Artists from the guest country, from Belgium, but also from Spain, Austria, Germany or other countries come together to get to know each other, to create and to show the result of their work in their respective hometowns. In this way, participating in EUROPALIA is a truly international experience that resonates far beyond Belgium and its neighbours.

Dance ‘Attakkalari Centre For Movement Arts’ EUROPALIA INDIA 2013 © Sudeep Bhattacharya

The elements of a multidisciplinary festival

Exhibition ’The eagle and the sun’ EUROPALIA MEXICO 1993 © Michel Waldman

Exhibition ‘Venus Unveiled’ EUROPALIA ITALIA 2003 © Antonio Quattrone, Firenze

A contemporary perspective on cultural heritage Traditionally, the guest country’s cultural heritage has played a central role in every festival, and it is true to say that the present is always rooted in the past. Heritage is still a powerful way of introducing a culture because it provides a gateway through which the audience is able to appreciate major artworks and lesser known masterpieces alike. The opening exhibitions are usually built around a single central theme – a surprising angle that places familiar heritage in a new light. The choice of theme is the result of close interdisciplinary collaboration between academics, curators and experts. In these exhibitions, heritage is literally juxtaposed with contemporary work wherever possible.

Entrance of the Exhibition `Trans-Siberian Express’ EUROPALIA RUSSIA 2005 @ Didier Vandenbosch

The list of famous and surprising eye-catchers to have graced the main EUROPALIA exhibitions is as diverse as it is long. For EUROPALIA MEXICO (1993) for example, an eight-tonne Olmec head was literally rolled into the Centre for Fine Arts. The Uffizi in Florence loaned Titian’s Venus of Urbino for the very first time for EUROPALIA ITALIA. And who could forget the Trans-Siberian Express that literally tunnelled through the walls of the Museum of Art and History for the eponymous exhibition during EUROPALIA RUSSIA?

A lively contemporary scene

The elements of a multidisciplinary festival

Each edition of the EUROPALIA festival keeps its finger on the pulse of the contemporary arts scene in the guest country. We provide a view on an art world in a continuous state of flux. This is only possible thanks to our teams keeping a close eye on the latest creative developments in the guest country. Major crowd-pullers who can act as cultural ambassadors are a key part of this, but it is essential that young and talented artists should also get an equal share of the attention. Always working in partnership with the guest country, EUROPALIA also takes care to ensure that the country is presented in all its diversity and social complexity. In order to achieve this, it must strike the right balance between more traditional art forms and cutting edge contemporary work.

Exhibition “The absence of a permanent I’ Gauthier Oushoorn EUROPALIA TURKEY 2015 © EUROPALIA

Dance ‘Beijing Modern Dance Company’ EUROPALIA CHINA 2009 © Zhang Changcheng

The elements of a multidisciplinary festival

Music ‘Débruit’ EUROPALIA TURKEY 2015 © Luis Peña Bacalao

Exhibition ‘Imagine Istanbul’ Kasper Bosmans EUROPALIA TURKEY 2015 © EUROPALIA – VS

Creation and exchange Creation and exchange are also driving forces in our endeavour to secure a permanent, meaningful place in the arts landscape. EUROPALIA inspires some exciting cross-pollination between artists from different cultures. It achieves this by bringing together artists from the guest country and leading European artists to create joint work. But it also stimulates young artists to go outside their comfort zones and to create new work that arises from dialogue and confrontation with artists from the guest country. The EUROPALIA RESIDENCY AWARD is a good example of this and is our most striking initiative.

The EUROPALIA RESIDENCY AWARD (launched on the occasion of the 45/25 anniversary festival) involves some five curators and artists being sent to the guest country, where they immerse themselves in local cultural life. On their return they are provided with a production budget with which to create work inspired by their stay.

To amaze millions of people

Exhibition ‘Art in Brazil’ EUROPALIA BRASIL 2011 © Philippe Degobert

To amaze millions of people

Exhibition ‘Bruegel, a Dynasty of Painters’ EUROPALIA BELGIUM 1980 © Christian Carez

45/25 anniversary evening 45/25 2015 © Imaginyou E. Charneux

An accessible festival

Over a million visitors

EUROPALIA presents a combination of activities that are aimed at the general public, including world-famous names plus projects targeting experts and connoisseurs. We also develop a series of programmes designed to make the festival more accessible and provide tools that enhance visitors’ understanding of what we offer, as well as helping them to place it in the right context. We want to ensure that as many people as possible regard their visit to EUROPALIA as a positive, enriching experience.

EUROPALIA festivals attract large audiences. On average, recent editions welcomed between 800 000 and over a million visitors at the many exhibitions, concerts or theatre and dance performances on the programme. All of these visitors came into contact with the arts and culture of the guest country. To this, we can also add millions of virtual contacts: visits to our website, Facebook posts and tweets, as well as viewers and listeners of television or radio programmes broadcast during the festival. It is self-evident that our audience is a highly international group. Visitors not only come from Brussels and Belgium, but also from much further afield. The sterling efforts of tourist offices abroad and the sophisticated international promotional campaign certainly play a role here.

To amaze millions of people

Exhibition ‘Useful Life’ Zhenzhong Yang – On the pillow EUROPALIA CHINA 2009 © M HKA clinckx

A festival also for the young We see young people not only as our future audience, but also as an important target group right now. As well as approaching them from an educational angle, we also encourage them to be active participants in the festival. For very young children, we organise discovery tours, game-based circuits, puppet theatre and all manner of things designed to enhance their enjoyment. We compile educational files and lesson packages for schools, which provide teachers with the necessary tools to make a visit to the festival as exciting as possible. These files and packages are compiled by students of colleges and universities, and are thus created by young people for young people.

For 18 to 25-year-olds we design tailor-made events, including club nights with well-known DJs, concerts of electronic and urban music and the latest films. Young adults are also more closely involved in the festival’s operations in other ways. For example, we have set up a virtual media centre in partnership with journalism courses. Students are invited to submit reviews of what they have experienced at EUROPALIA, in the form of videos, blogs, photos or written reports. They are given carte blanche and the best pieces are used in the festival’s official communications.

Exhibition ‘Gravura Extrema’ EUROPALIA BRASIL 2011 © Chiavetta

Exhibition ‘The Body in Indian Art’ EUROPALIA INDIA 2013 © EUROPALIA – ADK

Communications and governance

Street decorations EUROPALIA BRASIL 2011 ÂŠ EUROPALIA

Communications and governance

Communications

Governance

A festival’s success stands or falls on the

The financial and organisational responsi-

strength of its communications and on its

bilities, along with the broad principles that

ability to resonate with both the press and

guide the artistic compilation of the festival,

its audience.

are set out in a Memorandum of Understand-

To this end, EUROPALIA is able to count

ing. After numerous discussions, meetings and

on a number of permanent media partners in

negotiations, this results in the signing of a

Belgium (written press, radio and television),

Framework Agreement with the guest country.

as well as on a mix of communications

This agreement guarantees that the trajectory

platforms such as advertisements, posters

will be effectively and transparently followed.

and bannering in public space. The crowning glory of the communications plan is the festival brochure, tens of thousands of copies of

Each festival is financed equally by EUROPALIA and the guest country. EUROPALIA attracts considerable support

which are distributed far and wide. EUROPALIA

from the Belgian public sector, with the Ministry

activities are also flagged up in the publications

of Foreign Affairs, the Belgian Science Policy,

of all the venues that host parts of the festival.

the Flemish Government, the Walloon-Brussels

This helps to create a veritable avalanche of

Federation, the Brussels-Capital Region, the

attention for our programme.

German Community and the National Lottery

In addition, we draw up an international strategy that is designed to get every edition of the festival into the key international press. Our website informs the public about both

all providing funds. A second source of financing is the private sector. Some of our structural sponsors have been on board for decades. Other sponsors

ongoing and future activities. Hundreds of

commit to us for the duration of a single

thousands of visitors visit our online events

festival, for example, because they are active

calendar, view photos and videos, take a virtual

in a guest country, or wish to develop business

tour of the exhibitions, read interviews, or

there in future.

take part in competitions. All manner of social

Finally, the festival also generates its own

media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) complete

income, from ticket sales, merchandising,

the picture.

catalogue sales and so forth.

In the guest country, the festival usually

receives financial support from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and/or Foreign Affairs. Cities and regional governments can also take on part of the financing. Of course, funding from the private sector is also sourced in the guest country. The Europalia board consists of representatives of our major stakeholders, captains of industry and cultural managers. Count Georges Jacobs de Hagen presides the board since 2009.

Street decorations EUROPALIA TURKEY 2015 © Hans Roels

Street decorations EUROPALIA BRASIL 2011 © Urban Media / Clear Channel

Communications and governance

club.brasil – Street decorations EUROPALIA BRASIL 2011 © Simon-Blackley

Poster for the exhibition ‘Son of Heaven’ EUROPALIA CHINA 2009 © EUROPALIA

Tramway EUROPALIA TURKEY 2015 © Publi Van Dyck

Communications and governance

The EUROPALIA team Given the number and range of events involved in each festival, one might assume that EUROPALIA has a large team. Nothing could be further from the truth. The core team comprises of just 15 permanent staff members. There are four departments: artistic, communications, finance and administration. The team is led by a General Manager. For each festival, the EUROPALIA team is augmented by a series of curators, one per discipline. The General Manager is supported by a General Commissioner: a man or woman who can open doors at a diplomatic or business level. We also put together a team in the guest country, which is led by a General Commissioner and consists of experts and curators. The two teams then work together to create the best possible festival.

– More than 3000 mentions of EUROPALIA in national and international media – Each festival is attended by approximately 500 journalists – On average 5 press trips are organised for each festival

Galerie Ravensteingalerij 4 1000 Brussels / Belgium T +32 (0)2 504 91 20 info@europalia.eu www.europalia.eu

This brochure was compiled by EUROPALIA International. Texts Pablo Fernandez Alonso and the EUROPALIA team Graphic design Something Els Aurore Detournay-Kaas Print Pureprint.be Prepress Mistral Edition February 2016 Publisher Kristine De Mulder

1969 Italia

1973 Great Britain

09.09 › 10.10.1969 183 834 visitors 283 events

28.09 › 28.10.1973 459 729 visitors 328 events

GC Anne Cardon de Lichtbuer

GC Michel d’Ursel

Highlights – Frescoes from Florence – The Damned, Luchino Visconti

Highlights – Drawings of the Collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – From Henry Moore to Gilbert & George – David Hockney – London Philharmonic Orchestra

1982 Hellas

1987 Österreich

1991 Portugal

1996 Horta

1999 Hungaria

2001 Polska

01.10 › 30.12.1982 756 630 visitors 524 events

16.09 › 16.12.1987 1 673 919 visitors 521 events

19.09 › 29.12.1991 1 238 704 visitors 594 events

04.10.1996 › 05.01.1997 143 966 visitors 59 events

08.10.1999 › 09.01.2000 109 000 visitors 169 events

01.10.2001 › 06.01.2002 137 720 visitors 241 events

GC Alexander Xydis (GRC) Luk Darras (BEL)

GC Helene Lamesch (AUT) Paul Vandenbussche (BEL)

GC Emilio Rui Vilar (PRT) Jacques De Staercke (BEL)

GC Georges Jacobs

GC Agnes Hankiss (HUN) John Poullet (BEL)

GC Robert Kostro (POL) Georges Jacobs (BEL)

Highlights – Albrecht Dürer – Jugendstil – Staats- und Domchor Berlin – Deutsche Oper Berlin

Highlights – Men and Gods of Ancient Greece – Cycladic Art – Mikis Theodorakis – Greek classical theatre

DG Martine Baudin

DG Luc Stainier

Highlights – Treasures of the Golden Fleece – Klimt / Schiele / Kokoschka – Wiener Philharmoniker – Wiener Sängerknaben

Highlights – Triumph of the Baroque – Azulejos – Madredeus – Fernando Pessoa – Gulbenkian Ballet

DG Lena Dąbkowska-Cichocka (POL) Luc Stainier (BEL)

1980 Belgique / België

1985 España

1977 Deutschland 01.10 › 27.11.1977 833 633 visitors 378 events GC Arthur Strachwitz (DEU) Michel d’Ursel (BEL)

DG Luc Stainier Highlights – Horta – Brussels Jazz Orchestra

Highlights – Hungaria Regia – Zoltán Kocsis – Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra

Highlights – Forespring – Poland 1880-1920 – Sinfonia Varsovia – Andrzej Wajda

1971 Nederland 17.09 › 17.10.1971 337 600 visitors 124 events GC Anne Cardon de Lichtbuer Highlights – Rembrandt and his time – Stedelijk Museum – Concertgebouworkest – Herman van Veen / Paul Van Vliet

1975 France 27.09 › 30.11.1975 442 857 visitors 600 events GC Michel d’Ursel Highlights – From Watteau to David – Henri Matisse – Charles Aznavour – Léo Ferré

18.09 › 09.12.1980 1 148 352 visitors 1050 events GC Michel d’Ursel Highlights – Bruegel, a Dynasty of Painters – Art Nouveau in Belgium – National Orchestra of Belgium – Suzanne Lilar & Ward Ruyslinck

24.09 › 22.12.1985 1 509 215 visitors 741 events GC Luis Gonzalez Seara (ESP) Herman Liebaers (BEL) DG Martine Baudin Highlights – Splendour of Spain and the Belgian Cities – Santiago de Compostela – Picasso, Miró, Dali – Montserrat Caballé & José Carreras – Goya – España Baila

1998 Česká Republika 1989 Japan 27.09 › 17.12.1989 1 659 048 visitors 589 events GC Shizuhiko Yamamoto (JPN) Jacques Groothaert (BEL) DG Taizo Veda (JPN) Martine Baudin (BEL) Highlights – Man and his Image – Yamaguchi & Saito – Splendour of Nō-theatre – Gagaku – Kenzaburo OE

1993 México 23.09 › 19.12.1993 1 178 621 visitors 333 events GC Alfredo del Mazo (MEX) Jacques Groothaert (BEL) DG Oscar Urrutia (MEX) Paul Vandenbussche (BEL) Highlights – The Eagle and the Sun – Maya-Metropolis – Frida Kahlo – Placido Domingo – Carlos Fuentes / Octavio Paz

16.10.1998 › 17.01.1999 176 491 visitors 166 events GC Hubert Matejcek (CZE) Jean-François de le Court (BEL) DG Luc Stainier Highlights – Prague Art Nouveau – Bohemian Jewelry – Forman Brothers Theatre

2000 Brussels, Crossroads of Culture 08.09 › 05.11.2000 1 exhibition 36 393 visitors GC J.J. Ackermans DG Luc Stainier

2002 Bulgaria 03.10.2002 › 24.01.2003 375 000 visitors 136 events GC Emmy Barouh (BGR) Dirk Renard (BEL) DG Luc Stainier (March 2003) Highlights – The Gold of the Thracians – Philip Koutev National Folk Ensemble – Detska Kitka Youth Choir

– Valeri Gergiev – Boris Godunov – The Bolshoi Theatre

Highlights – Son of Heaven – The Silk Road – The Three Dreams of the Mandarin – The Orchid Pavilion – TANG Xianzu’s Dream On Dreams – Eastern Voices – GONG Linna – Hanggai Band – China Express – LIN Zhaohua – Shadow Theatre of Huanxian

2003 Italia

2013 India

2015 45 Years / 25 Festivals

01.10.2003 › 15.02.2004 1 077 906 visitors 415 events

04.10.2013 › 26.01.2014 837 000 visitors 509 events

40 events In 2015 EUROPALIA celebrated a double anniversary: 45 years and 25 festivals. The anniversary was an opportunity for EUROPALIA to reflect on the past and the future of the festival. EUROPALIA redefined its mission and strategy and adopted a new corporate identity.

GC Antonello Pietromarchi (ITA) Patrick Nothomb (BEL) DG Francesco Aloisi de Larderel (ITA) Kristine De Mulder (BEL) Highlights – A Singular Renaissance – Venus Unveiled – Da Pompei a Roma – Scala di Milano – Cappella della Pietà de’ Turchini – Piccolo Teatro di Milano

2007 Europa

GC Karan Singh (IND) Philippe Vlerick (BEL)

03.10.2007 › 03.02.2008 621 991 visitors 266 events

DG Suresh Goel & Anita Nayar (IND) Kristine De Mulder (BEL)

GC Pat Cox (EUROPA) DG Kristine De Mulder Highlights – The Grand Atelier – Agorafolly – 27x27x27 – National Theatre of Warsaw – Rafael Álvarez - El Brujo – Fort Europa - Tom Lanoye – Huelgas Ensemble

2011 Brasil 04.10.2011 › 15.01.2012 973 000 visitors 463 events GC Sérgio Mamberti (BRA) Pierre Alain De Smedt (BEL) DG Marcelo Dantas (BRA) Kristine De Mulder (BEL) Highlights – Brazil.Brasil – Art in Brazil – Indios no Brasil – Tom Zé – DJ Tudo – Céu – Grupo Corpo – Lia Rodrigues – Enrique Dias – Augusto de Campos – Walter Salles

Highlights – The Body in Indian Art – Indomania – Water Art Walk – Leela Samson – Kapila Venu – Alarmel Valli – Meeta Pandit – Chassol – Madhup Mudgal – DJ Andy Votel – Anurag Kashyap – Abha Dawesar

Next festival:

2005 Russia 03.10.2005 › 21.02.2006 1 108 899 visitors 476 events GC Sergei Yastrzhembsky (RUS) Pierre-Etienne Champenois (BEL) DG Mikhaïl Chvydkoy (RUS) Kristine De Mulder (BEL) Highlights – Russian Avant-Garde – From Tsar to Emperor – Trans-Siberian Express – Fabergé

2009 China

2017 10.10.2017 › 21.01.2018

08.10.2009 › 14.02.2010 1 101 175 visitors 567 events GC DONG Junxin (CHN) Claire Kirschen (BEL) DG CHEN Ping (CHN) Kristine De Mulder (BEL)

*GC – General Commissioner *DG – Director General

Highlights – William Kentridge – Happy Birthday, Europalia! – E25, Marie-Françoise Plissart & Jacques André – ERA ’La Kermesse Héroïque’ – Atmosphère, Marc Vanrunxt – Secret Face, Mesut Arslan – Ece Temelkuran

2015 Turkey 06.10.2015 › 31.01.2016 GC Erman Ilıcak (TUR) Luc Bertrand (BEL) DG İrfan Önal (TUR) Kristine De Mulder (BEL) Highlights – Anatolia – Imagine Istanbul – Port City Talks – Jef Neve and NOHlab – BaBa ZuLa – Okay Temiz & Belgistan – Mustafa Özkent & Belçika Orkestrasi – Christian Rizzo – Ziya Azazi – Nuri Bilge Ceylan – Hakan Günday – Spectacular Translation Machine – 22 residencies