Moderator: Ivan Milivojev (Direct Booking, Co-Founder of EXIT, YOUROPE, RS)
Speakers: Brenda Dobrovicsova (Rock for People, CZ), Filip Košťálek (Colours of Ostrava, CZ), Márk Bóna (Sziget Festival, HU), Paula Poštolková (Pohoda Festival, SK)
Venue: House of Art Arsen
Date: 13.09.2025.
Time: 11:15 – 12:00
Topic info: Europe’s major festivals are more than just big stages and headliners. They’re cultural institutions that shape music trends, define artistic narratives, and offer crucial exposure for emerging acts. But what actually goes on behind the scenes? This panel gathers key figures from some of Europe’s most influential festivals — EXIT, Sziget, Colours of Ostrava, Pohoda, and Rock for People — to discuss how artists are selected, how programming strategies are built, and how festivals balance creativity with logistics, budgets, and audience expectations. How do these festivals reflect social and political realities? How do they stay relevant in an oversaturated market? And how can smaller players learn from their models while carving their own paths?
Festival Forces: Shaping the Sound of Europe
Festival Forces: Shaping the Sound of Europe
Moderator: Ivan Milivojev (Direct Booking, Co-Founder of EXIT, YOUROPE, RS)
Speakers: Brenda Dobrovicsova (Rock for People, CZ), Filip Košťálek (Colours of Ostrava, CZ), Márk Bóna (Sziget Festival, HU), Paula Poštolková (Pohoda Festival, SK)
Venue: House of Art Arsen
Date: 13.09.2025.
Time: 11:15 – 12:00
Topic info: Europe’s major festivals are more than just big stages and headliners. They’re cultural institutions that shape music trends, define artistic narratives, and offer crucial exposure for emerging acts. But what actually goes on behind the scenes? This panel gathers key figures from some of Europe’s most influential festivals — EXIT, Sziget, Colours of Ostrava, Pohoda, and Rock for People — to discuss how artists are selected, how programming strategies are built, and how festivals balance creativity with logistics, budgets, and audience expectations. How do these festivals reflect social and political realities? How do they stay relevant in an oversaturated market? And how can smaller players learn from their models while carving their own paths?