Anders Beyer to continue as CEO and Artistic Director until 2022

‘This year’s Bergen International Festival was a great success. Anders Beyer and his organisation have consistently performed over and above our expectations in all aspects of the strategic plan developed and approved by the board of directors. The board has decided to extend his term in order to ensure continuity and long-term planning,’ explains board chairman Magne Furuholmen.

Established in 1953, the Bergen International Festival (Festspillene i Bergen), is the foremost and longest standing music and theatre festival in Norway. It is also the largest of its kind in any Nordic country.

Anders Beyer began his six-year term as CEO and artistic director in August 2012. Under his leadership the Bergen International Festival has set new audience records, reaching an attendance of 122 000 in 2016, 17% up on the record set in 2015.

He has also sought to break the bounds of the festival genre, making the easily accessible more so and special interests more specialised. Artistic quality, widespread collaboration on the local, national and international level and development of young talent are all typical features of Anders Beyer’s first term.

‘The board and administration have great ambitions for the Festival, and are working to further consolidate its position and develop it into a leading European institution in its field,’ says Magne Furuholmen, who took the position of chairman in February this year.

Anders Beyer is looking forward to continuing his work as CEO and artistic director. The 2017 Bergen International Festival will open on 24 May with Shakespeare Sonnets, set to music by Rufus Wainwright and directed by Robert Wilson.

‘I am looking forward to continuing my collaboration with the Festival board and my fantastic staff. We all share the very highest ambitions, and as one of the leading festivals in Europe will create innovative and ground-breaking artistic projects,’ says Anders Beyer.