Four major industry conferences endorsed or hosted by the IFEA are coming up:

In just a few weeks, August 18-22, International Events presents an extraordinary summer symposium and “Behind the Scenes” of five world-class festivals in Edinburgh:  The Edinburgh International Festival, world-famous for the best in classical artistic programming; the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, 60th Golden Jubilee, with a spectacular massed pipes and drums performance against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle; the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival; Edinburgh International Book Festival, the largest book festival of its kind, with 700 world-class authors and thinkers; and Edinburgh Art Festival, featuring the most exciting and intriguing artists of the modern and contemporary visual arts world.

A full lineup of professional development workshops, panel discussions, on-site tours, and networking sessions feature leading international experts from Edinburgh and abroad.  Speakers from the Edinburgh Festivals include Lady Susan Rice: Managing Director, Lloyds Banking Group Scotland and Chair of Edinburgh Festivals Forum; Faith Liddell: Director of Festivals Edinburgh; Joanna Baker: Managing Director, Edinburgh International Festival; Major General Euan Loudon: Chief Executive and Producer, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo; and Kath Mainland: Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Other speakers are Joe Goldblatt, PhD, CSEP: Professor and Executive Director, International Centre for the Study of Planned Events at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh; Hannah McGill: Artistic Director, Edinburgh International Film Festival; Donald Smith: Director, Scottish Storytelling Centre/Scottish International Storytelling Festival; Simon Gage: Director, Edinburgh International Science Festival; Sara Grady: Children & Education Programme Director, Edinburgh International Book Festival; and Susanna Nicklin: Director Literature, British Council. For more information and registration, go to www.internationaleventsltd.com/edinburgh/

On September 8-10, the IFEA Europe Annual Conference, "FESTIVE ROADS TO RECOVERY", will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark. Originally scheduled for April this year, but postponed on a few days' notice due to the ash cloud flight ban situation, the new conference dates coinside with two major Copenhagen events; the My World IMAGES festival, and the Nordic    conference Music Days. Thus, it has been possible to create an extra, exciting "layer" to the IFEA Europe conference, allowing for a series of panel discussions, workshops, walk-and-talks, and other fora in which exchange can take place between IFEA delegates and a number of visiting producers and artists from, in particular, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Furthermore, the programme shall focus also on the economic impact of cultural festivals and events in general - and in particular as means to recover from local, regional, or national recession - and feature a number of best practice presentations in areas such as sponsorship/funding, programming, organisation, and marketing.  In addition, the programme includes a number of social activities featuring Copenhagen's nightlife and on-site participation in some of the My World IMAGES events.

See the current programme here:  Conference programme 2010

Immediately following the IFEA Europe annual conference, IFEA Europe co-hosts the 8th "Journeys of Expression" researchers' conference at Copenhagen Business School. Initiated and managed by Leeds Metropolitan University's department of Tourism and Cultural Change and the CBS institute for Tourism and Cultural Management, more than 30 researchers will present resent findings on the festival and event industry world-wide.

Last, but not least, the IFEA World conference in St. Louis, Missouri, will take place September 16-19. The International Festivals & Events Association Foundation is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity to assist students, new professionals and financially challenged events in attending the IFEA's Annual Convention & Expo through their Foundation Scholarship Program. Each year, the IFEA Foundation will make available sixteen Legacy Scholarships to those who meet the qualified criteria. Criteria for each Legacy Scholarship is different, so be sure to look at each one to find the one that fits you best. If you are interested in applying for an IFEA Foundation Legacy Scholarship, Deadline for Application: Monday, August 2, 2010. For more details, go to www.ifea.com

Members of IFEA Europe or any IFEA affiliate and partners, receive a 50 GBP reduction on the registration fee of the IFEA endorsed Behind the Scenes programme in Edinburgh this summer. For more details, click here.

Delegates of this event that are currently not a member of IFEA (Europe), receive a free IFEA Europe membership. After fulfilling your registration fee, the respective IFEA representative will contact you to complete your complimentary membership registration. For question, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For complete details on the Behind the Scenes of the Edinburgh Festivals this August, go to www.internationaleventsltd.com/edinburgh/

There are several reasons why you cannot miss out on IFEA Europe's Annual Conference 2010 coming up in Copenhagen:

* The theme, "Festive Roads to Recovery", lends itself to lively debates which will bring about trends in EU policies as well as renew and recharge your energy in regards to funding opportunities, based on the belief that investment in culture is one of the best ways for cities and regions to stimulate economic development.

* The speakers; your opportunity to meet inspiring individuals such as

• PETER HANKE, a conductor with a mission to inspire corporate leaders through the techniques of cultural operators, who will engage all attendees during the opening session,

KIGGE HVID, an amazing woman who has developed the world's largest design festival and award, and has found her seat as a panelist and theme setter among world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos,

SIMON GRAVELING, the operational brain behind the ceremonies of the 2004 Athens Olympics, who is currently engaged with the ceremonies of the 2011 Special Olympics and advisor to London's 2012 Olympics,

• MIKE ROBINSON and JOHN HOLDEN, both acclaimed researchers whose perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for festivals and events will leave you intrigued and inspired

ANKI SANDE, operational manager charged with the challenge of ensuring the experience of 700.000 visitors to the annual Gothenburg Culture Festival

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• ESBEN DANIELSEN, spokesman of northern Europe's largest rock festival, the Roskilde Festival, who will reveal the festival's unique way of engaging volunteers and creating a business around the core product
• STEVEN WOOD SCHMADER, president of the International Festivals & Events Association, who maintains a world-wide perspective on the special events industry
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• WITEK HEBANOWSKI, a leading and inspiring cultural entrepreneur engaged in numerous cultural projects in his native Poland, in other parts of central and eastern Europe, and in the Caribbean.

• MIA HANSEN, GAVIN CLARKE, RICHARD HADLEY, and MARCUS ROMER, who - each in their unique way - will offer perspectives on audience engagement via social media, as a tool to build community and support integration, and to establish festival brands
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....in addition to featured speaker such as RASMUS TSCHERNING and SOREN WÜRTZ of the Danish Center for Experience Economy, COLM CROFFY of the Association of Irish Festival Events, KATHRIN DEVENTER of the European Festivals Association, and not least famous Georgian actress KETI DOLIDZE, founder of Tblisi's GIFT Festival, who is now in bad standing with the government for supporting the opposition, and many others..

See the full list of confirmed conference speakers here:  Speaker profiles as of March 25, 2010 (4.07 MB)........and download the full conference programme here:  Programme as of March 30 2010

* The social programme; offering an evening cruise in the scenic harbour of Copenhagen, concerts, and an unforgetable evening in Copenhagen's famous Tivoli Gardens; all offering great opportunity to meet and network with colleagues

* The good offer: A high quality conference offered at a low cost....and at an even better price if you book before March 25th!

REGISTER NOW ..... at www.ifeacopenhagen2010.eventbrite.com