Open Air Festival presentation
A word from the upcoming and growing festivals in the world, insight in conducting their own profile and artistic decisions to enforce this growth. What choices do you make as a festival? What are the USP’s and how do you connect to your audience?
Friday 7. April 11:30 - Room 1
Runa Strindin (Midgardsblot, NO)
Runa Lunde Strindin is the founder, owner and artistic director of the Midgardsblot Festival in Norway and has been working as a promoter and festival producer for the last 15 years. Since 2020 she’s been a board member of the Norwegian Live Organisation and also a juror for the Metal category at Norwegian Grammies “Spellemann” several times.
Growing up in the black metal scene she started out helping bands with bookings and promo, gaining first-hand experience in most sides of the live industry. She went on to work for the Inferno Metal festival, becoming head of PR.
In 2014 she commissioned Enslaved and Wardruna to write the piece «Skuggsjá» and produced the Eidsivablot concert for the 200th anniversary of Norway’s constitution. This led her to establish Midgardsblot in the Borre park by the Viking Grave Mounds.
Jouni Markkanen (Tuska, FI)
Jouni Markkanen is a Finnish promoter, artist manager and agent, working with numerous bands such as Amorphis, Wardruna, Devin Townsend, Heilung, Behemoth, Electric Callboy, Igorrr, Kreator, Kvelertak, Lost Society - just to name a few. He is also the promoter and main booker of the 50.000 capacity TUSKA FESTIVAL, Helsinki since 1999. Markkanen founded GREY BEARD CONCERTS & MANAGEMENT in 2014.
Codruta Vulcu (ARTmania, RO)
Codruța Vulcu is the Director and Founder of the ARTmania Festival, East European Music Conference & Showcase Festival, Blaj aLive Festival and Romanian Music Export and AROC Vice president (the Romanian Association of Promoters of Concerts and Cultural Events), with an eighteen-year-long career in the artistic sector and a rich event portfolio which includes organizing the 2019 state visit of His Holiness Pope Francis, to Romania.
With a bachelor's degree in Art Photography and a master's degree in Art History, from the National University of Arts in Bucharest, Codruța was raised in the spirit of art. During her studies (2000 – 2005) she exhibited her artistic works in personal exhibitions at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest as well as in the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki. During this time, she was also a press correspondent for various Romanian publications covering some of the biggest European festivals.
In 2019, Codruta received the trophy for the „Best Small Festival” category for ARTmania Festival, and in 2020, she received the „The Award for Excellence and Passion”, both at the European Festival Awards (EFA). Codruța is currently the Opening Program Coordinator for Timisoara 2023, as the city begins its journey as a European Capital of Culture. LinkedIn
Nia Pushkarova (Water Tower Art Fest, BG)
Nia Pushkarova is an artist and organizer of the Water tower art fest. As an artist, she does painting, video installation, photography, art lecturing, and performance. She is a chairwoman of NGO-IME since 2004. Founder, curator, and organizer of Water Tower Art Fest 2006-2019, and won the award of European Festival Label year 2015-16. Nia is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Festival Association since 2015. Powered by Active citizen Fund Bulgaria.