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® CIOFF® NEWSLETTER Edition 11 July 2011 Entre Nous CIOFF® semi‐annual Newsletter 2011 CIOFF® EXCO & COUNCIL MEETING published by Working Group on Pub‐ Waynesville, North Carolina, USA, 27th April‐1st May lic Relations & Festivals Commission FOLKMOOT USA played host to the 2011 CIOFF® EXCO & Council Meeting, and Joint Meeting of the Festivals Commission and Working Group on Public Relations, which took place in Waynesville, North Carolina, USA from 27th April to 1st May In memory of 2011. The meeting was extremely well organized by volunteers and staff of FOLKMOOT Henri Coursaget USA and all the delegates were overwhelmed by the host’s hospitality. All Council Founder of sessions took place in FOLKMOOT Friendship Centre, the home of FOLKMOOT USA. CIOFF® The delegates were also treated to spectacular sightseeing tours along Smoky Pages 2‐5 Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Museum of the Cherokee Indians, the Folk Arts Center and the city of Asheville and entertained by Cloggers and Bluegrass Musicians. We are extremely grateful FOLKMOOT USA and especially to Rolf Kaufman and Inside this edition: Karen Babcock for their warm FOCUS ON: hospitality, excellent organisa‐ tion and for giving all of us a CIOFF® EXCO & 1 memorable experience we will Council Meeting all treasure. Henri Coursaget 2-5 Rolf Leander 5 National Sections 6-10 Sectors 10 Folkloriada 2012 11 Future Events 12 Page 2 Entre Nous FATHER OF FOLKLORE AND CIOFF® IS GONE! IN FONDEST MEMORY OF HENRI COURSAGET turbed by any politics. That was his reward. By founding the International Coun‐ cil of Folklore Festivals, CIOFF®, on August 8, 1970, with a couple of international friends, he crystallized his message of peace. CIOFF® is the only non‐governmental organization for protection of arts and traditions Monday March 21, 2010 Henri that is represented at the UNESCO. Coursaget “Father of folklore” CIOFF® has several aims: passed away and Confolens has been overwhelmed by sorrow. He was a well‐known pharmacist in the Confolens‐region. He loved the theatre and the stage, and in 1957, he didn’t hesitate even one second, to take over the reins of the Con‐ as a man with a view, for whom folens Festival. During 50 years, he nothing is impossible, a humble has been in the lead of this associa‐ man who has been capable of tion, while feeling strongly about achieving miracles. He has taught us the colours of Confolens, friendship – CONFOLENTIANS and people from between all human beings, respect all over the world alike – to open up for distinction, for cultures and the our hearts to all these people who profusion of arts and popular tradi‐ come to reach out to us as brothers tion. After having fulfilled its chair‐ and sisters. manship during 50 years, he be‐ came honorary president of his Fes‐ tival. He had the maturity to with‐ draw with delicacy, in order to as‐ sure that his Festival might continue to spread all over the world. During these 50 years, he had the ability to first of all, to create links thrill 5 million spectators, he has between festivals and tradi‐ organized 1 750 000 performances. tional groups from different He dreamed about bringing people countries (about one hun‐ on stage who were each others’ dred at this day), opponents, like Americans and Rus‐ further, to allow groups from sians during the Cold War, or Pales‐ far‐away countries, to come tinians and Israelis, and many more. and make a tour, He moved mountains to realize and last but not least, to these feats of strength, and dancers bring about an ever growing He was tireless, on all levels, to‐ and musicians fraternized, undis‐ brotherhood of men and wards anybody and at any moment. serve the cause of PEACE. For me, as a child, he was Santa Currently, CIOFF® coordinates 250 Claus, the one who made the feast festivals all over the world and en‐ come true in August, at Confolens, ables 50 000 artists from all corners every year again! of the world, to meet and exchange. He was the one who founded this Your dream, dear Henri, is realised huge world organization of 100 and will continue for a very long countries, called CIOFF®, right here time. at CONFOLENS. All these years, he In the hearts of the Confolentians, has been a peace sower, a spender Henri Coursaget will be remembered Edition 11 Page 3 FATHER OF FOLKLORE AND CIOFF® IS GONE! IN FONDEST MEMORY OF HENRI COURSAGET ended his career being a colonel. Confolens’ fire workers will never forget him nor, in particular, his commitment to the organization, of which he filled the post of chairman for many years. He has always been at their sides and he was part of the big solidarity family. of generosity and of hope, right here in the heart of our beloved here, he will leave a huge emptiness Charente Limousine. This warmth, in the Confolens region. Neverthe‐ this feast, this communion be‐ less, dear Henri, be assured that tween people, these smiles and there will be many of us to spread these tears transform CONFOLENS your values in Confolens and into a universe full of friendship. throughout the world. Their roots For many years, he also been the are solidly embedded in every Con‐ pharmacist of the voluntary fire folens citizen and all over the world. brigade. By the way, he trained his What you have sown on the way that youngest son, to step in his shoes. you have tracked, will bear fruit for a He was the pioneer of pharmacol‐ long time to come. ogy in the ambulance equipment at For all the volunteers and all the the first aid centre at Confolens. In friends, it will be very difficult to perfect harmony with the doctors imagine, that he will never again of the centre, he gave everything encourage them nor see his smile he got during the interventions again and that his fragile body will that were linked to the rescue of never again run from one place to helpless victims. the other during the Confolens Festi‐ Very soon, he was recognized and val and during the CIOFF® meetings rewarded by the departmental As he was also part of many other and festivals all over the world. organization of the fire and rescue associations like JUMBORUN, RO‐ Hats off to you, artist! brigades. He became the first phar‐ TARY CLUB and many others, it is Philippe Beaussant macist commander in chief and he impossible to mention them all Secretary General CIOFF® Director of the Confolens Festival WORLD SAYS FAREWELL TO HENRI On Saturday, 26th March thou‐ ship candles to celebrate the life of sands of people came to Con‐ Henri Coursaget, whose legacy will folens from all over the World to live on through CIOFF® and festivals say their farewell to Henri Cour‐ worldwide. saget, this truly remarkable and His vision inspired us and brought us extraordinary man, who years ago together. had a vision of spreading love, peace and friendship through folk‐ lore. At the same time all over the World thousands of people, young and old, whose lives were touched by Henri’s dreams and vision, joined each other across the oceans and mountains in a prayer and in lighting a circle of friend‐ Page 4 Entre Nous FATHER OF FOLKLORE AND CIOFF® IS GONE! IN FONDEST MEMORY OF HENRI COURSAGET for life. And one philosophy: “Never take yourself too seriously. During these fifty years I had reverses, many times I felt lonely. But I always reacted: Success is dangerous, fail‐ ures are stimulating. Don’t forget I am of the sign of the Taurus”. The festival of Confolens, founded in 1958, turned out to be very success‐ ful. This first edition was dedicated to folklore of the West, this means folens, initiated by the enormous the west of France of course. After cost to organise the successive festi‐ We were in 1970. The legendary way this issue and when the president vals since 1958. Why not spread the of Fanny Thibout to convince people retired, Henri accepted the presi‐ efforts by creating tours between made me arrive at the border of the dency “only for two or three years”. the different festivals? Therefore it Baptismal Font of CIOFF®. I per‐ The reality would not take into ac‐ was necessary to create a structure formed the remarkable job of secre‐ count this initial intention. Henri to coordinate the whole. Henri Cour‐ tary of the Belgian representative, Coursaget presided the festival of saget organizes a meeting on the 8, 9 Fanny Thibout, during the develop‐ Confolens during fourty nine years… and 10 August in the city hall of Con‐ ment of the statutes of this organisa‐ Henri Coursaget was an idealist. The folens with the principal responsible tion, which Henri Coursaget strongly folklore of the entire world should persons of the participating groups believed in. Born in 1924 in a small be the motor, never blocked, of mu‐ as well as the delegates of the Minis‐ town in Charentes in France as a son tual respect between peoples, what‐ tries of Culture present. Around the of a pharmacist he himself was also a ever be their religion, whatever be table of the Municipal Council were professional chemist and hard as a the political system they live in, Fanny Thibout ‐ and me behind her marble counter. His father forced whatever be their social class. I wit‐ conscientiously taking notes – and him to study pharmacy in Toulouse. nessed the sounding of the song ten more national representatives. However during this time he also “folkloric” at the opening of the fes‐ Finally Henri Coursagt took the presi‐ followed introductory courses of tivals of 1970 and 1972:” Girls and dency of the International Council of dramatic art with Louis Jouvet.

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