Embodiment, green touring, alternative settings, involvement of local communities are some of the keys that are changing the way of performing in Europe and ensuring the success and funding of the projects that use them.
The IDEA consultancy team looked at the projects selected for Perform Europe, the objectives set, the themes, issues and audiences key to the projects and the objectives of the partnerships. According to Eglė Valintėlytė, researcher of the IDEA team “the analysis went beyond Perform Europe’s core priorities to examine the unique aspects of each project”.
The researchers reviewed proposals, partner information, and artistic descriptions, with a focus on how projects describe themselves, the communities they engage with, and the innovative forms of presentation, sustainable touring, and community involvement they adopt. “After a more detailed examination of each project, we could see what unites projects – whether in terms of form or content” explains Eglė Valintėlytė. Through this lens, the team identified seven key strategies that reflect the broad approaches being employed by these projects. Perform Europe presents these strategies and some project examples in an article.
As the IDEA team mentions “no project is confined to a single strategy. Instead, multiple strategies often intersect within each project, creating layered and multifaceted approaches to tackling social, cultural, and ecological issues”.
Some general conclusions are that:
- Τhere is a clear focus on local, personal, and embodied experiences, particularly those of historically marginalized communities. These experiences are not only being represented in the content of the performances, but are also central to the processes of production and engagement.
- Additionally, there is a strong emphasis on experimenting with sustainable and community-oriented production models. Many of the projects are using the opportunity to explore greener and more rooted approaches to both performance and touring, aiming to connect more deeply with local communities.
- Finally, youth and marginalized groups are highlighted as critical actors in envisioning and implementing alternative social and ecological realities. The projects recognize the potential of these groups to lead change, not only as subjects of artistic exploration but as indispensable contributors to new ways of thinking and living.
Ηalf of the selected projects emphasize lived experiences, using the connection between the personal and the bodily to explore social inequalities and hierarchies. They focus on telling stories from marginalized communities and addressing societal or ecological challenges through the immediacy of physical experience.
(M)others on tour, Boys Just Want To Have Fun, Diversely Typical – Embracing Neurodiversity through Movement
Several projects are grounded in research and explore themes of diversity, inclusion, and climate change, by integrating artistic practice with scientific exploration. Collaboration with academic institutions plays a vital role in engaging audiences through research findings.
Manual of Adaptation to the Planet, The Mountain Range, Beyond Borders (MRBB), Buried Secrets – Responses to Raw Materials Exploitation
A substantial number of projects are experimenting with performance formats that challenge conventional boundaries. These initiatives seek to engage audiences in innovative, participatory ways, often using unconventional environments or settings.
HAND IN HAND_ intergenerational participatory project, Greenhouse, The Metis Method: choreographies for a gender geography
Sustainability is a priority for many of the selected projects, with several actively rethinking touring practices. These projects aim to reduce their environmental impact by spending extended periods in local communities, exploring virtual alternatives to physical touring, and engaging with local artists and professionals. This approach also allows for deeper connections with the communities they visit, fostering knowledge exchange and capacity-building while minimizing the carbon footprint of traditional touring.
Boreal: Slow conversations between trees and people, Performing Memory, From The First Step: A Rooted Tour
Many projects are placing a strong emphasis on community involvement, particularly with underrepresented groups. These initiatives aim to create spaces where marginalized or less-served communities, for example, rural populations, children, queer, BIPOC, or displaced individuals, can engage with the performing arts. Some projects focus on fostering relationships with local professionals or scientific audiences, leveraging these connections to address broader environmental or social issues.
CONNECTING SILENT VOICES, Transgeographical Hydro Bodies, When the Bleeding Stops
Long-term collaboration and network building are key priorities for many of the selected partnerships. These projects aim to establish sustainable connections that extend beyond individual performances, focusing on resource efficiency and long-lasting relationships with partners. By relying on pre-existing networks and models, they aim to create a sustainable impact that persists beyond the scope of the project itself.
Bringing Family Theatre to Villages across Europe, Dance ALL IN, Spreading the Roots
A notable portion of the selected projects is dedicated to engaging with disempowered groups, including youth, racialized communities, disabled and neurodiverse individuals, and those affected by conflict or displacement. These groups are not only seen as vulnerable or marginalized but are also recognized as key actors capable of bringing about meaningful social and ecological change. The projects often involve these communities in both the creation and performance processes, encouraging their active participation in shaping new narratives and solutions.
HOME – the memory of displacement and resistance of the Palestinian diaspora in Europe, European Roma Theater Festivals, ALASKA —the pursuit of happiness & the abusive world
* Persentance of projects using each strategy
Perform Europe is a forward-looking funding scheme for the European performing arts sector. Through its open calls, it promotes sustainable touring practices, a balanced geographical circulation of performing arts works and initiatives that prioritise underrepresented voices. In the current edition of Perform Europe 42 partnership projects are supported that involve 187 diverse partners.
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