EJN Staff Exchange Programme

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Previous participant: Christian Russano

From: NovaraJazz / Associazione Culturale Rest-Art (Italy)
To: Jazz sous les pommiers (France)
Dates: 7 - 12 May 2024


Thanks to Europe Jazz Network's staff exchange program, I spent five days in Coutances, covering the Jazz Sous Les Pommiers festival.

It was my first time working as a cultural worker for a festival outside of Italy, and it was a really educational and interesting experience.

Thanks to the perfect schedule given to me by Tiphanie Moreau, I was able to observe all the activities held during the festival. From the concerts in the main theater in Coutances to the evocative cathedral in the city center to the management of all 500 volunteers.

I was able to attend fantastic concerts such as “Bill Frisell,” “Robben Ford”, “GoGo Penguin,” and many others.

It was amazing to be able to witness the division of tasks and management of all activities by countless volunteers who have been spending, for years, their vacations to be part of an amazing family and team dedicated to the all-around world of art and music.

During the Festival, the city comes alive and music can be heard in every part of the city and at every hour. A melange of sensations and fantastic experiences.

And also very interesting to have been able to be part, each morning, of the follow-up meetings where each team could discuss and share with the others how the previous day had gone in an atmosphere of extreme professionalism and attention to even the smallest things.

A very environmentally conscious festival with work related to the reuse of materials in every area, from non-disposable plates to fountains scattered around the city so one could fill one's water bottle.

I am honored to have had a small part in this wonderful festival, and my gratitude goes to Tiphanie for her time and kindness. I strongly encourage everyone to participate in this program and will definitely try to participate in other staff exchanges in the future.

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