CONFERENCE 2025

The 2025 EFN conference will take place in Manresa, Catalonia, Spain on

Friday 10 and Saturday 11 October.

The EFN conference 2025 combines with the spectacular Fira Mediterrania de Manresa to offer two days of energising discussion, international networking, expert speakers and the delights of the Fira’s multitude of artistic showcases.

Focussing on the wide ranging themes of Diversity and Inclusion, speakers at the conference programme will include Turkish festival producer Kutay Kugay, whose radio programme from Istanbul has championed many marginalised artists; Tunisian percussionist and festival director Imed Alibi; founder and director of Belgium’s global music performance and education organisation Muziekpublique Peter van Rompaey; and, from Denmark’s Tempi folk organisation, Laia Canals who has worked extensively with the Keychange programme promoting equality in music.

In a session on minority languages and cultures, the conference will hear from, among others, Iranian expert on minority musics Mehdi Aminian, language expert Ioana Aminian from Roots Revival and director of the Welsh traditional arts organisation trac Cymru Danny KilBride.

JMI’s Suchet Malhotra will give a presentation on the world-renowned multicultural Ethno movement and its impact on young people – and in the Open Mic slot delegates will hear from a range of speakers about their own ideas and organisations.

Reflecting Fira Mediterrania’s focus on Balkan traditions, speakers including Rok Kosir of the MOST Music agency, Serbia’s Bojan Djordjevic of the Ring Ring association and Slovenia’s Bogdan Benigar of the Drugha Godba festival will paint a picture of the multifarious scene across the Balkan region today.

Discussion groups in which all delegates can express their ideas are an important part of EFN conferences and in Manresa breakout groups will include a focus on future priorities for EFN in various fields, including traditional dance, led by Tone Erlien Myrvold of the Norwegian Centre for Traditional Music and Dance and their Horizon project concentrating on dance as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Other breakouts will include discussions on diversity, inclusion, festivals, education and the ways in which delegates and EFN as a network can plan with these issues in mind.

Add to this programme the delights of two international networking lunches at the splendid Kursall Theatre, a pre-conference reception hosted by wine producers of the regional D.O. Pla de Bages – and Fira Mediterrania’s multitude of roots music and dance showcases – and the 2025 conference offers one of this year’s most attractive events for the folk arts sector.

Conference registration fees cover:

All conference sessions over two full days
Barcelona airport pick-ups and return transfers
Discount rates at the four star Hotel Don Candido in Terrassa ****
Daily transport from Terrassa to Manresa
Access to Fira Mediterrania showcase events
Delegate lunch in the splendid Kursaal Theatre
Welcome reception hosted by wine producers D.O.Pla de Bages

These are the Conference registrations options:

EFN Members €95
Non members of EFN €125
Students €50

**** Accommodation is very limited in the city of Manresa so booking is advised in the nearby (25 minutes away) city of Terrassa and EFN/Fira will provide transport to and from Manresa each day. The special discount code for booking the hotel in Terrassa is emailed immediately to everyone who registers for the conference. The discount has limited availability so book early!