Three Festivals. Two Countries. An Extraordinary Journey: ASGARD IN TRANSYLVANIA
The “Musical Bridges through Cultural Entrepreneurship” project was a triumph of international collaboration, successfully bringing together three prominent festivals: the ARTmania Festival (RO), the Inferno Metal Festival (NO), and the Midgardsblot Festival (NO), initiated by ARTmania Events (RO) as the project coordinator. This unique collaboration transcended borders and cultures, uniting influences from the ancient Nordic world and Transylvania, captivating audiences in Romania and Norway.
ASGARD IN TRANSYLVANIA was not just a series of memorable festivals but also an example of international cooperation in the music and cultural industry, guided by common values.
Project Objectives:
- Development of an innovative contemporary art and New Media product, “Asgard in Transylvania,” through a cultural collaboration between Romanian and Norwegian artists.
- Increasing access to culture for over 30,000 individuals in Romania and 19,500 in Norway by developing or presenting 13 cultural products of contemporary art through the export and import of music and culture during the 2023 festivals.
- Strengthening cultural entrepreneurship by creating 2.5 new jobs over one year and developing the skills of 6 professionals in organizing rock-metal and New Media festivals in collaboration with partners from Norway.
Impact of Asgard in Transylvania:
- Over 30,000 Romanian spectators participated over 3 days on all stages of the ARTmania Festival 2023.
- 4,500 individuals from Norway joined for 4 days at the Inferno Metal Festival & Music Conference.
- 15,000 Norwegians took part in the Midgardsblot Festival over 4 days.
- The project had an impressive online impact, reaching 280,000 people.
A Multifaceted Experience:
- 18 exceptional concerts for all music enthusiasts.
- 21 activities and artistic installations providing a captivating experience through history, film, museum tours, and fascinating stories.
- 6 co-branded stages/zones and installations, adding color and energy to the festival in both Romania and Norway.
- 6 commercial partners and 12 media partners contributing to the project’s success.
- 6 trained experts accumulating valuable knowledge in organizing rock-metal and New Media festivals.
2023 Edition – ARTmania Festival
The ARTmania Festival 2023 took place from July 28 to 30 in Sibiu and brought together renowned artists such as Porcupine Tree, Wardruna, Emperor, Pain of Salvation, Tesseract, Haken, Samael, Port Noir, Vulture Industries, Koikoi, W3 4R3 NUM83R2, Asemic, Roadkillsoda, Folket Bortafor Nordavinden, Nebala. The festival was more than just a musical event; it was a complex cultural experience, offering the audience the opportunity to explore multiple forms of artistic expression.
“ARTmania Festival was conceived as much more than a series of concerts; it’s a complex cultural experience that invites people to explore the world of music and art in general. With each edition, we remind ourselves that ARTmania is a platform that demonstrates that art and culture have the power to connect people from all corners of the world. We are optimistic and continue to pave new ways and evolve in our unique spirit.” – Codruta Vulcu, Director of ARTmania Festival & Project Coordinator
„Musical Bridges Through Cultural Entrepreneurship” is financed with the support of EEA Grants within the RO-CULTURE Programme. The project has a non-reimbursable value of 980.230,30 lei (198.102,36 euro) and is carried out over a period of 12 months.
The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe. There are two overall objectives: reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the donor countries and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics. The three donor countries cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The donors have provided €3.3 billion through consecutive grant schemes between 1994 and 2014. For the period 2014-2021, the EEA Grants amount to €1.55 billion. More details can be found on www.eeagrants.org și www.eeagrants.ro.
RO-CULTURE Programme is implemented in Romania by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Management Unit. The Programme aims at strengthening social and economic development through cultural cooperation, cultural entrepreneurship and cultural heritage management. The total budget amounts to almost 34 million EUR. For more details access www.ro-cultura.ro
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ARTmania Festival, the first Romanian festival that developed the idea of combining art and entertainment in Romania, is a platform dedicated to promoting all forms of artistic expression inspired by rock culture.
Since 2006, ARTmania has established itself as the main regional promoter of contemporary music projects. Music is the core component, but it is only a part of the experience that ARTmania Festival wanted to offer to art lovers from Romania and abroad. From the very beginning, ARTmania was conceived as a cultural platform to offer the public various events and ways to experience different forms of artistic expression, such as concerts, exhibitions, book launches and film screenings.
As the longest-running rock festival in Romania and one of the brands with the longest tradition on the regional cultural scene, ARTmania has shaped its own identity through a bold concept and a special environment: the Great Square of one of the most beautiful medieval fortresses in Eastern Europe.
ARTmania is constantly exploring new directions, building on the experience of previous editions where many important artists have performed. Among them are Steven Wilson, Peter Hammill, Serj Tankian, Devin Townsend, Dream Theater, Opeth, Die Toten Hosen, Nightwish, Within Temptation, Apocalyptica, HIM, The Gathering, The Sisters of Mercy, Anathema, Apocalyptica, Lacuna Coil, Helloween, Lacrimosa, Poets of the Fall and Deine Lakaien.
