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Camille Retailleau – EJN Staff Exchange 2025
Sending EJN member: Pannonica (France)
Hosting EJN member: Stadtgarten Cologne (Germany)
Dates of the exchange: 30 March – 6 April 2025
This whole week was a meaningful experience for me. I chose Stadtgarten because its artistic line is quite similar to ours, the team is composed of a similar number of people, and because I was particularly interested in the NICA artist development scheme. I spent a lot of time with Esther Weickel, who is in charge of the programme and gave me a clear and thorough understanding of how it works.
My week was organised around meetings with each member of the team. From the current artistic project to the history of this unique venue, and from administration to internal organisation and structuring, I appreciated having the time to really explore these topics with professionals and specialists. It was refreshing to take a step back from my usual working context.
Stadtgarten’s events calendar is almost twice as extensive as ours, with concerts running in parallel to the main artistic project. This allowed me to discover new ways of dealing with a higher volume of events. We share the same commitment to defending singular music, but our choices and possibilities are different. To be honest, I did not so much learn new information as I opened myself to different ways of thinking and working. I acquired new methods and new reflexes.
One of the most impactful conversations I had during the week was with Ella O’Brien Coker, Head of Public Relations. This exchange made me reflect on my own organisation and inspired me to take it further.
I now hope to encourage my colleagues in France to take part in similar exchanges. I also look forward to meeting the Stadtgarten team again at festivals or at a Europe Jazz Network Conference. The door of Pannonica remains open to anyone who would like to discover our daily work, as I believe this experience is both professionally and personally enriching, and that it is essential to remain open-minded and ready for intercultural dialogue.
