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Cultural Conversations is a series of in-depth interviews presented within the framework of the Sibiu International Performing Arts Market (SIPAM), an associated structure of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival. Building on a tradition of dialogue established within SIPAM’s professional programme, the series offers a space for meaningful exchange between artists, cultural leaders, curators, producers, and performing arts professionals from around the world. SIPAM itself has long served as an international platform for dialogue, collaboration, and professional exchange in the performing arts sector.

Hosted by Mihaela Dedeoglu and Anthony Sargent, Cultural Conversations invites distinguished Festival guests to reflect on artistic practice, cultural leadership, international collaboration, and the challenges and opportunities shaping contemporary cultural life. Through thoughtful and engaging discussions, the series creates opportunities to explore the ideas, experiences, and perspectives that inform the work of some of today’s most influential cultural figures.

Each conversation is professionally audio- and video-recorded for editorial and archival purposes. Following the Festival, the interviews are edited and published as podcast episodes on the websites of SIPAM and Scena Digitală, while selected content is also featured in “Cultural Conversations”, a publication released during the subsequent edition of the Festival. Together, these recordings form a growing archive that documents the voices, reflections, and creative journeys of Festival participants, contributing to an ongoing international dialogue on the performing arts and their role in society.

The event takes place in the Hall of Mirrors of the German Forum, located near Piața Mare in Sibiu’s historic centre. Interviews are held daily from 20–26 June, between 16:00 and 17:30, and consist of two sessions of approximately 45 minutes each.


Mihaela Dedeoglu is a Romanian journalist, radio producer, and cultural interviewer with extensive experience in the fields of arts and culture. A long-time broadcaster, she began her career at Romanian Public Radio before establishing a distinguished presence in cultural journalism.

She is currently a presenter and producer at RFI România, where she hosts Zebra, a programme dedicated to culture, ideas, and contemporary society. Throughout her career, she has interviewed leading artists, writers, performers, and cultural figures from Romania and abroad, fostering meaningful dialogue on creativity, artistic practice, and the role of culture in today's world.

As a collaborator of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival and its associated events, Mihaela Dedeoglu has moderated public conversations and interviews with important Festival guests. Her work is driven by a commitment to creating engaging encounters between artists and audiences while documenting the ideas and experiences that shape contemporary cultural life.

Anthony Sargent studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Oxford before embarking on a distinguished international career in the cultural sector. His professional experience includes senior roles at the BBC in radio and television presentation, production, and management; Artistic Projects Director at Southbank Centre; Head of Arts at Birmingham City Council; and External Partnerships Manager for the BBC’s nationwide Millennium Music Live initiative.

He was the founding General Director of The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, served as Chair of the International Society for the Performing Arts, and later became CEO of Luminato Festival Toronto. Most recently, he served as Interim Director of the Koffler Centre of the Arts. He is also the author of two major international studies examining lessons for the cultural sector arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, published in 2021 and 2022.

Through Cultural Conversations, Anthony Sargent brings decades of international leadership experience and a deep understanding of the performing arts ecosystem, helping to frame discussions that connect local and global cultural perspectives.

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Duration: 1h 30min

EVENT CONDUCTED AND RECORDED FOR EDITORIAL AND ARCHIVAL PURPOSES, SUBSEQUENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE ON SIBIU INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS MARKET WEBSITE AND ON DIGITAL STAGE.