FESTIVAL LABTheory and practice for the next generation of European festival programmersAn initiative of 8 festivals in 8 countriesFESTIVAL LAB wants to point out the necessity to give a chance to the next generation of festival programmers and to offer theoretical and practical support as well as a laboratory to test drive new program ideas.FESTIVAL LAB has the goal to create a European platform for interested postgraduate potential future festival programmers by theory and practice. It is conceived as a special program which integrates theoretical preparation (academy), practical experience and discussion (workshops), an opportunity of own professional experience (residency) and a future-oriented artistic program, designed, developed and realised by the residents as part of the program of the hosting festivals.FESTIVAL LAB is a project in three steps over two years:1. After a European-wide call to apply for the project, 20 young potential future curators will be selected to take part in the project.2. All selected participants will take part in a program combining theoretical and practical work in an initial 5 days academy and eight 3 days workshops at all eight participating festivals.3. Five selected participants will be given the chance for a 1-6 months residency at one of the five co-organizing festivals, where they conceive and develop their own European artistic program, which will then be presented as part of the hosting international festival.Objectives:- To provide young postgraduate potential festival programmers the theoretical skills for this profession, a chance to explore festival programming on a European level in practise and a opportunity to develop and realise a own program.- To present the European public and professionals new ideas and examples of future contemporary festival programming. - To start a European debate on the necessity of training of young festival programmers and the test drive of a first model.