EJN Staff Exchange Programme

Sending EJN member: Jazz in the Park – Fapte (Romania)
Hosting EJN member: Cully Jazz Festival (Switzerland)
Dates of the exchange: 3–13 April 2025

Between 3 and 13 April 2025, I had the chance to take part in a staff exchange at the Cully Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and it was one of the most eye-opening and meaningful experiences of my life so far.

I joined the exchange with a clear objective: to learn more about how the festival manages its volunteer coordination — a team of around 600 volunteers and staff — and to better understand the sustainability practices embedded in the event. However, from the very first day, I realised that this would be much more than an observational learning experience.

This was my first time being part of such a long festival, lasting eight days, and it completely reshaped my understanding of festival organisation. Everything felt intentional, thoughtful, and deeply human. The team did not limit my experience to the departments I was initially interested in, but went above and beyond to give me a comprehensive view of how the entire festival operates.

What impacted me the most was the involvement of the local community. I was genuinely impressed by how many people want to volunteer, how proud they are to contribute, and how emotionally invested they are in the festival’s success. It was a powerful reminder of how deeply a cultural event can be rooted in the identity of a place and its people.

On a personal level, I feel that I returned home changed. This experience helped me see things from new perspectives and encouraged me to reflect, grow, and rethink how I approach both my work and my life. It expanded my worldview and reconnected me with what truly matters to me: people, culture, creativity, and purpose. I also had the opportunity to experience the festival as an audience member — discovering new artists, immersing myself in the music, and living a new culture. This balance between observing and simply living the festival made the experience even more intense and meaningful.

I left Cully feeling inspired, full of ideas, and deeply grateful. I fell in love with the place, the people, and the spirit of the festival, and I now hope to return — maybe even every year.

A special thank you goes to EJN, Creative Europe, and the entire Cully Jazz team for welcoming me and making this journey so special, as well as to the Jazz in the Park team for encouraging me to take part in the programme. An extra thank you to Mathieu, volunteers and staff coordinator, who took the time to guide me through almost every aspect of his work. I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of this experience.