Holger Jan Schmidt is one of Europe’s main networkers on festivals and sustainability. He is co-initiator and steering committee member of the pan-european think-tank GO Group (Green Operations Europe) and the anchorman for green issues of Yourope (the European Festival Association). Holger is project manager of the international Take A Stand initiative and campaign for the (live) music sector, which was launched in 2017 to create a movement encouraging social cohesion in our society as well as promoting awareness and tolerance. He looks back at more than twenty-five years with two of Germany’s biggest festivals, RhEINKULTUR and DAS FEST. Holger wrote the „Sounds For Nature guidlines for environmentally friendly events“, is a lecturer for „Sustainable Festival & Eventmanagement“ and a performing and recording musician as well.

TAKE A STAND is the awareness campaign for the festival, music and creative sector. It was launched by YOUROPE (The European festival association ) in 2017 as a platform for the festival and music industry to strengthen the awareness for the European values such as openness, cultural exchange, social cohesion, tolerance, humanism and peaceful dialogue. Today TAKE A STAND is supported by 140 festivals, associations and other partner from 25 countries. Those who feel connected to the European ideals, who believe in peace, integration and dialogue as opposed to fear and exclusion, are invited to join TAKE A STAND. The initiative is independent and entirely driven by the voluntary commitment of the participants.
www.take-a-stand.eu