DECLINING OR THRIVING?

The New International Reality 

Working internationally is a cornerstone in the operation and ambition of IETM members worldwide, and IETM is a vehicle, platform and meeting point for making those ambitions come true.
 

Faced with the climate crisis, global inequalities and geopolitical tensions in today’s society, the modus operandi of international work needs an overhaul. 
 

In 2024, IETM closed a chapter and opened a new one:
 

The New International in the Performing Arts (NIPA) was the fruit of IETM’s 2022-2024 Creative Europe Network project. The core aim of NIPA has been to seek new and sustainable collaboration models in the performing arts. Our four-year Creative Europe Network Project THRIVE, launching in 2025, focuses on how the performing arts sector can thrive in today's reality by innovating its practices, strengthening capacities and skills, and harnessing its leadership in societal transformation. 
 

On 29-31 October in Den Bosch, we celebrated our collective learnings from the past three years and set the course for the years to come.

International best selling author of Guantánamo Diary Mohamedou Ould Slahi Houbeini and members of the Berlin based cultural organisation Oyoun - Louna Sbou and Madhumita Nandi - delivered thought-provoking and inspiring keynote speeches. 

A series of facilitated workshops, designed by Simón Adinia Hanukai, unfolded over two days and challenged us to devise relevant and proactive approaches to two key themes:

• The Rules of the Game, which asked us to consider how finances and other resources can be distributed fairly in international collaborations in order to ensure our partnerships are equitable and our work is environmentally sustainable. 

• Rework the System, where we asked ourselves what we should and can do as a global performing arts community to transform the current economic and political systems.

Additionally, there has been plenty of opportunities for networking and to enjoy everything our host and co-organiser Verkadefabriek – the cultural hotspot of Den Bosch - had to offer. Verkadefabriek invited us to explore a cutting edge artistic programme with some of the most prominent voices in physical theatre, dance and new circus by Panama Pictures, Julian Vogel, Bambie and Het Zuidelijk Toneel.

During the meeting, we encouraged participants to attend the following local festivals happening at the same time to extend their trip and make the most of travelling to the Netherlands:

Festival ‘De Betovering’ in The Hague: 25 October - 2 November

The Festival De Betovering (literally translated as ‘the spell’ or ‘the enchantment’), offered children's activities for more than a week in various places in The Hague, all around the theme of art. From crazy dance performances to street theatre, this outing has been a fun first introduction to art and culture for many children.

Festival Circolo in Tilburg: 18 - 27 October

Festival Circolo was all about circus and a far cry from the classic high-top tent with clowns. It explored the contemporary circus scene with a programme bursting with music, theatre, dance and visual arts with exciting circus acts - from acrobatic stunts full of speed to balancing work at dizzying heights.

Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven: 19 - 27 October

Dutch Design Week (DDW) was a nine-day event dedicated to the design of the future and the future of design. The emphasis was on expertise and talent, experiment, innovation and crossovers. Dutch Design Week has also served as a platform to analyse and discuss the design profession as a whole, demonstrating how the ideas and actions of designers can shape a positive future.

The IETM Focus Den Bosch 2024 happened as part of our Creative Europe project The New International in the Performing Arts (NIPA): Bridging local and global.