Viktor Orban since 2010 . It is home to one of Europe ’ s biggest festivals , the six-day , 90,000 capacity , Sziget Festival , which is due to take place this year from 6-11 August with a line up including Chappell Roan , Charli XCX , Post Malone and Shawn Mendes .
Sziget Festival sustainability manager Ákos Dominus says that the political backdrop is taking its toll : “ The government used to have an environmental ministry but there has been a far-right government for the last 14 years and protecting the environment is not a focus for them , so there has been a major decline in resources .”
Dominus says that the ethics of the event and the sense of community created around it remain despite the political atmospheres outside its gates : “ We play a leading role in promoting social responsibility , the festival is a stronghold for the LGBTQ community , and we continue to speak up for and support the people of Ukraine . We are the biggest cultural event in the country , and the most valuable economically for Hungary , but we receive no support from the government .”
Huber says Pohoda in Slovakia is another example of a festival affected by a hostile political environment . Established by Michal Kascak and Mario Michna in 1997 , the 30,000-capacity event is based at a former military airfield surrounded by Western
Pohoda Festival faces a hostile political environment in Slovakia
“ WE ARE THE BIGGEST CULTURAL EVENT IN THE COUNTRY , AND THE MOST VALUABLE ECONOMICALLY , BUT WE RECEIVE NO GOVERNMENT SUPPORT .”
Carpathian mountains , where the festival has played host to a huge number of major acts ranging from Patti Smith to the Wu Tang Clan .
“ The situation there is difficult ,” he says . “ There have been public arguments between the president of the country and the festival ’ s promoter , because the festival team has voiced opinions about political issues . We are seeing change in many countries , even in Switzerland , when it comes to mounting pressure on us as promoters to not provide an opinion as a festival . We have had politicians tell us to ‘ focus on providing entertainment , not political opinions .’” Huber believes that in the current political climate festivals have a more
EUROPEAN FESTIVALS
important role to play than ever before when it comes to educating people and encouraging them to explore different approaches : “ Nowadays , having a panel at your festival enabling people to talk publicly and share information is part of our duty as festival promoters . We play an important role because at our events people from all ages and backgrounds come together . We can encourage young people to stop ignoring what ’ s going on , to get informed , and to go and vote .” In 2017 , Huber co-founded the European initiative Take A Stand , a music industry project designed to encouraging social cohesion and promote awareness and tolerance for all cultures , genders , races , colours and religions . He says a major focus for YOUROPE this year will be implementing initiatives to improve and protect the mental health of festival teams who are often working under considerable strain .
“ It ’ s our aim to create a new group focused on human resources and helping sustain the health and wellbeing of our teams . We are looking to create seminars about this and want to have guidelines created offering recommendations about how best to sustain positive working conditions for our employees . We can ’ t change the industry overnight but enabling this exchange of information helps develop the whole market .
Fields of dreams Despite the many challenges , Huber is positive about the future for festivals not least because there appears to be no shortage of creative event ideas : “ I ’ m convinced there will be more festivals launched in the coming years , new concepts , organisers doing it in a different way . It comes down to finding the community for your festival .
“ I am seeing a lot of smaller festivals launch in Switzerland , whether it be in the Alps , somewhere in the field , or a city , people are doing it differently and successfully . There will always be space for new ideas , and people always want fresh festival concepts .” accessaa . co . uk 31