The performing arts have been going through some rough weather in recent years. Changing environmental, social and political conditions have increasingly put our work under pressure. All of us are trying to come up with answers and solutions, but how can these be more than just survival strategies? The answer is clear. In order to have a real systemic impact, we need to work together.

For almost 40 years, IETM has been a place for performing arts professionals to develop new ideas and solutions together. The purpose: strengthening our practice through knowledge exchange. But, as society is changing, the network can only achieve this purpose if it stays fresh and relevant. So where are we after 40 years of international networking? And where should we go?

Through Rewiring the Network (for the twenties), the members of IETM took advantage of the start of the new decade to take part in a year-long journey to collectively envision a transition into a more sustainable future for the network and for the performing arts. Under the coordination of our research partner IDEA Consult, we have developed this transition from an artistic, social, economic, ecological and human point of view. 

The report of our work provides an accumulation of ideas which we will now turn into concrete strategies for the coming years. Our work can provide IETM members with keys to change their own practices and organisations. Likewise, our findings can be of use for other cultural networks and organisations which are looking to change their existing methods and habits and to discover new ways to work together in a sustainable way, internationally.  

Read the full report

The project was coordinated by Joris Janssens (IDEA Consult), Martina Fraioli (IDEA Consult) and Delphine Hesters (Independent researcher, advisor and facilitator).

Image in banner: ©️ Allie Smith