POLITICS IN FOCUS

The European Association of Independent Performing Arts kindly invites to a series of online events.

#1 12.12.2024 – Community Building: Uniting the Art Scene
#2 13.02.2025 – South-East Dialogue: Definitions of Art, Visibility and Funding
#3 08.05.2025 – Social Responsibility of Art
#4 12.06.2025 – Environmental Responsibility of Art

POLITICS IN FOCUS #1 – Community Building: Uniting the Art Scene

DEC 12th 2024, 14-16 h CET, online

While in some European countries interest groups and associations have already represented the interests of specific art scenes, such as the independent performing arts sector, for many years on the national level, other countries‘ art scenes still face an uphill battle when it comes to uniting artists and voicing their concerns and demands as one. Since the effectiveness of solidary structures and common goals in policy negotiations has been proven, this event will thus focus on how some artists and cultural workers have scrambled to establish structures in their regions in order to bring together artists to join those conversations. Artists at grassroots level, representatives from newly created arts associations and those working despite lack of funding will talk about the challenges, demands and progress they have seen in their countries.

Programme:

Anna Steinkamp (BFDK | DE) in conversation with Diana Rojas (t.punkt | CH) on strategies of uniting the independent performing arts sector on a national level in countries with large regional differences.
Ulrike Kuner (IG Freie Theaterarbeit | AT) in conversation with Zuzanna Medygrał (Unia Teatrów Niezależnych | PL) on strategies of gaining recognition as a representative organization, establishing professional structures, and keeping artists/members engaged in political activities.
Kryštof Koláček (AND ČR | CZ) in conversation with Rolf S. Nielsen (Teatercentrum | SE) on fair pay strategies for the independent performing arts sector, comparing minimum fee recommendations to collective bargaining agreements.

Moderation: Christian Keller

Link to video recording of the event. (fairapps login necessary)

POLITICS IN FOCUS # 2: South-East Dialogue: Definitions of Art, Visibility and Funding

Feb 13th 2025, 14-16 h CET, online

For this event, artists, producers and representatives from arts associations and interest groups based in Southern and Eastern European countries will come together to discuss ways of thriving without major state support. As some countries‘ art scenes rely on cooperation with other European partners and receive funding from bodies such as the Norway Grants scheme, artists and cultural organisations have had to find other means to fill the gaps of national funding opportunities. Especially independently working artists or those with a multidisciplinary approach often fall outside limited definitions of state-sponsored art practices. Questions thus arise as how to survive as an artist in those situations and how advocacy efforts and international collaboration can raise the visibility of underfunded local art scenes.

Programme:

Jelena Božić (Kulturanova | RS) in conversation with Barbara Poček (Glej Theatre | SI) on strategies of keeping cultural organisations going with international funding when national support falls through.
Alexandar Hadjiev (ACT association | BU) in conversation with Yiannis Panagopoulos (Hellenic Actors Union | GR) on the current opportunities and support structures for young artists working in the independent performing arts in Bulgaria and Greece.
Anikó Rasz (Sinarts | HU) in conversation with Marta Kondrla (AND| SK) about what kind of art is deemed “worthy of funding” under their current (far right) governments and how the independent performing arts field manages to continue to work in this difficult political climate.

Moderation: Christian Keller

Video recording of the event. (fairapps login necessary)

POLITICS IN FOCUS # 3: Social Responsibility of Art

May 8th 2025, 14-16 h CET, online

In a recent communique on the working conditions of artists, the European Union has reiterated its commitment to upholding artistic freedom in all member countries. However, as cultural debates have recently become more and more politicized, especially in countries with more authoritarian governmental rule, the role of the artist as a social agent has to be re-examined: What responsibility does the artist have in creating their art? Do artistic projects need to address the issues facing their communities, or should art be a site of refuge? Can it be both? These and other questions will be discussed by artists and academics working in the independent performing arts sector.

Programme:

The role of art in times of war
Alex Borovenskiy (ProEnglish theatre Kyiv) in conversation with Luiza Moroz (Policy Adviser at Culture Action Europe) and Roman Schell (journalist and author) sharing their thoughts and experiences what meaning arts and culture hold for civil society and national identity in times of war.

The political power of art in regional context
Martin Naundorf curates “Festival OSTEN” in a part of Germany that is known to be politically “far right”. Daniele Marannano is the coordinator of “Addiopizzo”, a grass-roots movement in Palermo (Sicily, IT) which promotes a ‘cultural revolution’ against the Mafia and supports social justice. Both conversation partners will share their thoughts and experiences on how arts and culture can impact social cohesion in a regional context.
Interpreter: Thomas Maniacco
The influence of cultural centres on the local urban population
Thomas Kasebacher curates the „house of the republic” during the Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen). Franky Devos is the director of Kunstencentrum VIERNULVIER. One structure only exists for the duration of a festival, the other has a program full year program and a big permanent structure. Both speakers will share their thoughts on access, curating, hierarchies, and the social impact their cultural centres have on the local urban population.

Moderation: Christian Keller

Participation for this event is for free. Registered guests will receive a link for online participation a day prior to the event.

POLITICS IN FOCUS #4 – Environmental Responsibility of Art

June 12th 2025, 14-16 h CET, online

With a looming climate crisis, artists and art projects are not only asked to uphold ecologically sustainable working practices but to address environmental debates in their work as well. Repurpose, reuse and recycle have therefore driven organisational innovation, and topics concerning the planetary decay in the age of the Anthropocene have started to conquer stage and gallery. But what can the ecologically insignificant arts sector really achieve in the face of big polluters, like the car or energy sector? For this event, artists, cultural managers and sustainability experts will come together to discuss the ways in which we can effect structural change and the role of individual artistic responsibility.

Programme:

# Knowledge

An increasing number of so-called eco-readers and green books are being published by arts organizations to provide artists with guidelines on how to make their projects more environmentally sustainable. In this section, guest speakers from Austrian, Bulgarian and Irish performing arts organizations and advocacy groups will present their respective eco agendas and discuss the unique challenges and opportunities in the independent performing arts.

# Support

While almost every other funding body for the independent performing arts in Europe has started to require some outline of how to make each art project more environmentally sustainable, the responsibility seems to lie squarely with individual artists and companies. This adds even more organizational workload to artists to-do lists. In this section, guest speakers from Scandinavian countries will therefore introduce initiatives that support artists both financially and in non-material ways when it comes to organizing touring and travel to reduce the ecological footprint.

# Power

While more sustainable art practices might be inspirational to other parts of society, the actual ecological footprint of the arts and culture sector is markedly small compared to other industries. And, anyway, the real power of the performing arts lies elsewhere: in its capacity to relate important subjects and mobilize live audience’s emotions and minds through body-based artistic practices. In this section, theorists and artists from different European countries will thus talk about the transformative qualities of a ‚theater for future‘.