YOUROPE – The European Festival Association and the European Festivals Association (EFA) have organized the campaign #WeVoteForEurope, inviting festivals to encourage their fans to use their right to vote in the upcoming European elections. 80+ Festivals have so far followed their call and publicly supported the campaign that went live on May 28, 12 p.m.

#WeVoteForEurope is a campaign of the European music festivals to engage festival audiences to use their right to vote in the European elections (June 6 – 9 2024). It was initiated by YOUROPE e.V. and rolled out together with the European Festivals Association (EFA), the two most important organisations representing European festivals. To create the biggest possible impact, festivals were asked to share the message on their socials, all at the same time – May 28th, 12 p.m.

In a video message that YOUROPE prepared for all to share, they emphasize the importance of a free and democratic Europe for the festivals on the continent. Only in a free Europe, festivals can thrive. Festivals are places where European values like solidarity, equality and diversity are lived – and in times of rising populism and extreme right tendencies, it has once again become important to defend these values at the ballot.

The initiative is inspired by TAKE A STAND and realised with the great support of the Festivals Colours of Ostrava (CZ), Das Fest (DE), Maifeld Derby (DE), Open’er Festival (PL), Pohoda Festival (SK), Rock For People (CZ), Roskilde Festival (DK), and Sofia Live Fest (BG). The full list of supporters can be found on the campaign website.

#WeVoteForEurope is a project created with complete freedom of content and run on a voluntary basis by its initiators and supporters. It was created in connection with YOUROPE’s three-year network project “3F – Future-Fit Festivals” (which is co-funded within the Creative Europe programme of the European Union).

• Do you like the initiative and want to join? Would you share the message and video?

• Then you are cordially invited to do so. Just download the materials here.

• Please make sure your posts are public, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeVoteForEurope.

• If you share something, please email office@yourope.org so you can be added to the list of supporters.

• Campaign website: wevoteforeurope.eu

YOUROPE – The European Festival Association.

About Yourope.
Since 1998, YOUROPE – The European Festival Association has evolved into the most important association for popular music festivals in Europe. As of May 2024, YOUROPE Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Counts 123 festivals and associated organizations from 30 European countries among its members. The overall aim of the association is to strengthen and improve the European festival scene as a whole, and promoting arts and music while connecting different cultures.

In its working groups YOUROPE focuses on different topics at the heart of festivals: sustainability, climate action and environmental protection in the GO Group (Green Operations Europe) and security and crowded spaces management in the YOUROPE Event Safety (YES) Group.

In addition, YOUROPE hosts the biannual European Festival Conference (EFC) and organizes the annual European Festival Awards (EFAs).

H/T N.M.