Johan - Moerman - Associate Director Netherlands

Johan is Managing Director Rotterdam Festivals Ltd , the organisation responsible for event and policy co-ordination in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He started the organisation in 1994. Rotterdam has been recognised as the best event city in the country and praised for its consistent and innovative festival policy.

He is a specialist in concepts that optimise the co-operation between cities and event producers and maximize the results for both festival organisers and the city authorities. Festivals help cities to strengthen their attractiveness and image, to increase the number of tourists, to increase community pride and to develop neighbourhoods. The key success factor is the way that all partners involved collaborate and stimulate each other to emphasise the unique character of the city and improve the quality of life of the citizens.

Before starting Rotterdam Festivals he worked for the Rotterdam Arts Council for 12 years, latterly as Deputy Director.

Johan Moerman has more than 20 years of experience in the cultural industries and is a board member of several international networks and cultural organisations. He is on the board of the American based International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA), a worldwide network of over 2500 event professionals, where he leads the committee for international co-operation. He is a board member of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Gergiev Festival and Audiences Europe, a new European network for people involved in audience development in the arts. Johan is based in Rotterdam.