EFRP was set up as a flexible and open research platform. It held research workshops in Brussels (2004), Nitra (2005) and De Montfort University, Leicester (2006), at which 30 or so researchers from across Europe presented their findings. The project's aim is to gather together and stimulate research papers, studies, courses and debates which articulate the European dimension of festivals and examine their impact on cultural production and distribution.

By the end of 2008, EFRP will have produced an edited volume of papers in English on festival programming and politics. Research contributions are sought for a one-day workshop in Abbaye de l’Épau (Le Mans, France), hosted by France Festivals. Further research workshops will be held in spring 2007 (place and topics to be announced) and in Ireland on 8 - 10 November 2007 (hosted by the Irish Festivals Association).

EFRP has received support from the Flemish Theatre Institute and Kunstenfestival des Arts, festival Divadelna Nitra, the Arts Council of England and the European Cultural Foundation.