Szép Jets Off To Berlin

Szép, who’s been at Sziget for six years, announced her move during a Yourope meeting at Germany’s recent Reeperbahn gathering in Hamburg. She also flew back to Hungary with one of the Der Helga! Awards, which grew out of a traditional dinner attended by a variety of festival organisers at a previous Reeperbahn.

Der Helgas, which had its now-annual bash at Imperial Theatre on Sept. 18, appear to allow the festival organisers to take a good humoured look at their clientele. Last year the goody bags for the event contained a can of beer and a screwdriver.

Szép joined Sziget in 2009, after four years setting up and running the Hungarian Music Export Office. Its role was to promote the country’s music abroad, but the Hungarian government shuttered it within 18 months of Szép leaving. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at the festival,” she told Pollstar, confirming the move by saying she’s already house hunting in the German capital.

In 2011 Szép was offered and accepted the post of director of Hungary’s Cultural Institute in New York, a four-year contract to represent her country on a diplomatic and cultural level in New York and throughout the U.S. She later pulled out and stayed with the festival, having sensed she felt the position was more political than cultural.

Two years ago Szép was among the staff Sziget let go for financial reasons, having three years ago borrowed money to buy back the three festivals it had sold to media giant Econet in 2008.

She was immediately re-engaged on what appeared to be more of a freelance consultancy basis. Szép frequently represented Sziget on international conferences and trade fairs, appearing on various panels, as well as being actively involved in the Central European Talent Exchange Programme.