Perform Europe is a pilot scheme funded by the European Commission. Its aim is to support experiments to make touring of performing arts works in Creative Europe countries more sustainable and inclusive. Read more here.

This is a call for performing arts producers and presenters motivated to shape cross-border partnerships meant to explore and test alternative ways of bringing artistic work(s) to people and places.

The full Perform Europe call guidelines and application criteria are available in English on this page.

After six months of research and analysis, the consortium is currently getting ready to start testing the Perform Europe grant-giving scheme. It will happen in two steps:

• In the first step, producers (artists, collectives, companies and presenters that have produced an artistic work) and presenters (festivals, venues, and other organisations offering a presenting context) apply to be part of Perform Europe’s process of collective learning and networking supported by its digital platform. The call is detailed below and will be open for applications on 15 June. Only applicants, selected in this step, will be invited to join the second step of the process.

• In the second step, while and after participating in the learning and networking process, applicants will shape partnerships among each other, co-create touring and distribution proposals and apply for Perform Europe grants. The total budget available is € 1,5 million; grant amounts will range from €10,000 to €100,000. The second call will be published at the end of July only for those selected in the first step (see a more detailed timeline of the Perform Europe application process on the Perform Europe website).

The application for the first step will be open from 15 June to 7 July on the Perform Europe digital platform. Since this first call will be open only for three weeks, you can start preparing today.

Consortium invites organisations and freelance professionals that:

●  work in the performing arts: theatre, dance, performance (including amateur performance), circus and street arts. Please note that live music performances (including opera or musicals) are not covered by Perform Europe, except for music theatre.

●  for producers: have an artistic work or artistic initiatives they would like to bring to other countries - physically, digitally or in a mixed way, between October 2021 and the end of June 2022;

●  for presenters: have a festival or a space, or other context which would present an artistic work from another country between October 2021 and the end of June 2022;

●  are based in one of the Creative Europe countries* (see full list here) or in the United Kingdom;

●  have a vision on how to collaborate across borders through sharing resources, practicing fairess and solidarity;

●  are already practicing alternative and innovative touring and distribution practices and can demonstrate it, and also those that

●  are eager to innovate their practices and have a vision on how to do it, but might experience too many constraints.

We especially encourage presenters and producers that have less visibility in the cross-border artistic landscape to apply for this call. We welcome applications from women, artists and organisations based in rural areas, those having disadvantaged socio-economic or ethnic backgrounds, identify as LGBTQIA+, have disabilities and any other people that identify as part of an underrepresented group within the performing arts landscape.

What will you be asked in this first step opening on 15 June?

●  General information about your organisation;

●  General information about your artistic work(s) (for producers) or your presenting context(s) - festival, venue, outdoor space - (for presenters), which you’d like to be part of a collaboration proposal;

●  Your vision and ideas on sustainable and inclusive ways of bringing artistic work to people and places (400 words);

●  How your artistic work / presenting context, which is part of your application, fits this vision (250 words);

●  What you would like to gain from being part of a Perform Europe granted partnership (250 words) and what you would be willing to share (skills, knowledge, money, visibility, infrastructure, experience, etc.) (300 words)

Please note that all this information will be requested in English. 

How can you apply? The call will be open on 15 June – follow EDN social media and website and/or please subscribe to Perform Europe newsletter to get notified. In the meantime, you can already get ready by reflecting on the points shared above and even anticipating the second application step.

More information about the first step, second step and Perform Europe timeline can be found in English on the Perform Europe website.

15 June - 7 July 2021 | First step of the online application process

End of July 2021 | Applicants selected in step 1 are informed via email and the second step of the call is announced

Early September - early October 2021 | Applicants selected in step 1 enter the learning and networking period, co-create proposals and apply for step 2. Selected partnerships will be informed via email in October.

October 2021 - End of June 2022 | Touring and distribution proposals selected in step 2 receive grants and are implemented

Consortium partners

Perform Europe is co-initiated by a Consortium of 5 organisations: IETM - International network for contemporary performing arts, the European Festivals Association (EFA), Circostrada, EDN - European Dancehouse Network and IDEA Consult.

Perform Europe is funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.