In December 2020, five organisations - IETM, EFA, Circostrada, EDN and IDEA Consult - joined together to create Perform Europe, an EU-funded project which aims to rethink cross-border performing arts presentations in a more inclusive and sustainable balanced way. Across 18 months, 19 partnerships from 40 Creative Europe countries took part in the pilot scheme. Over 85 producers and presenters were ready to test their innovative touring and distribution schemes, while representing all performing arts disciplines. Through Perform Europe Live, they were able to offer more than 250 presentations of over 45 artistic works across 27 Creative Europe countries and the UK. 

In June 2022, artists and presenters from the 19 flagship Perform Europe partnerships, along with jury members, Perform Europe Partners and many key stakeholders had the opportunity to meet in person at an event at Bozar in Brussels, Belgium. During the event, Perform Europe’s impact was explored, and policy recommendations to the European Institutions and Member States were presented. These recommendations include ideas on how to strengthen sustainable and inclusive collaborations across the Creative Europe region.

At the event, Perform Europe had the opportunity to interview a handful of artists and presenters that took part in the pilot, as well as Gundega Laivina, chair of the Perform Europe journey and representatives of its consortium. The Perform Europe’s Documentary aims to reflect and unravel the impact that taking part in the Perform Europe pilot had on the partnerships and the communities to which they toured, as well as look behind the scenes at the journey and selection process. 

Find out more about Perform Europe here: https://performeurope.eu

Filmed and edited by VideoCrew bvba: https://videocrew.be

This documentary contains footage generously provided by partners and has been properly credited wherever possible. Please contact ietm@ietm.org if you feel there has been a mistake with the credit. 

© IETM, all rights reserved.

Perform Europe is funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. Its pilot edition was co-managed by a Consortium of 5 organisations: IETM International network for contemporary performing arts, the European Festivals Association (EFA), Circostrada Network, European Dancehouse Network and IDEA Consult.