International network
for contemporary
performing arts

Réseau international
pour les arts du spectacle
contemporains

Rete internazionale
per le arti performative
contemporanee

コンテンポラリー
パフォーミングアーツ
国際ネットワーク

Internationales Netzwerk
für zeitgenössische
darstellende Künste

Международная сеть современного 
исполнительского 
искусства

Red internacional
para las artes escénicas
contemporáneas

Internationaal netwerk
voor hedendaagse
podiumkunsten

თანამედროვე საშემსრულებლო
ხელოვნების
საერთაშორისო ქსელი

Rede internacional
para as artes performativas
contemporâneas

الشبكة الدولية
لفنون الأداء
المعاصرة

Alþjóðlegt
tengslanet
í sviðslistum

Xarxa internacional
d'arts escèniques
contemporànies

Rhwydwaith rhyngwladol
ar gyfer celfyddydau
perfformio cyfoes

Rrjeti ndërkombëtar
për artet skenike
kontemporane

Διεθνές δίκτυο
για σύγχρονες
παραστατικές τέχνες

Međunarodna mreža 
za savremene 
scenske umjetnosti

Mezinárodní síť 
pro současné 
divadelní umění

International netværk
for kontemporær
scenekunst

Internasionale netwerk
vir kontemporêre
uitvoerende kunste

თანამედროვე საშემსრულებლო
ხელოვნების
საერთაშორისო ქსელი

Nemzetközi hálózat
a kortárs
előadóművészetért

國際當代表演藝術網絡

líonra idirnáisiúnta
na taibhealaíona
comhaimseartha

Starptautiskais tīkls
laikmetīgai
skatuves mākslai

Netwerk internazzjonali
għall-arti performattivi
kontemporanji

Międzynarodowa sieć
na rzecz współczesnych sztuk
performatywnych

Internationellt nätverk
för samtida
scenkonst

Međunarodna mreža
savremenih izvođačkih
umetnosti

Международна мрежа
за съвременни
сценични изкуства

Rrjet ndërkombëtar
për arte skenike
bashkëkohore

Міжнародная сетка
сучасных
перфарматыўных мастацтваў

Međunarodna mreža
za suvremene
izvedbene umjetnosti

国际当代表演艺术网络

Rahvusvaheline
kaasaegsete etenduskunstide
võrgustik

현대 공연 예술을 위한 국제 네트워크

Tarptautinis tinklas
šiuolaikinis
scenos menai

Интернационална мрежа
за современа
изведувачка уметност

شبکۀ بین المللی
برای هنرهای نمایشی معاصر

Rețeaua internațională
pentru artele spectacolului
contemporan

Medzinárodná sieť
pre súčasné
scénické umenie

Çağdaş
gösteri sanatları için
uluslararası iletişim ağı

©Tanja Kanazir
24 - 27.10.2019

In a never-ending attempt to defend their relevance, the arts have labelled themselves with a variety of concepts and frameworks, each triggering open questions and conveying a hint of confrontation: community art or participatory art? “High art” or grassroots culture? Cultural democratisation or cultural democracy? Professional art or everyday creativity? 

What is participation in the arts: yet another product of neoliberal thinking or a meaningful audience experience? At what level and in which phase should audiences be involved: on or off stage, in the creative process or in delivering a performance, in the management or in the mission and strategies of a cultural organisation, or at each of these steps? When we address audience development, are numbers not at all important, or if they are, how can we combine them with genuine exchange and forging stronger bonds with citizens? 

We live in an age in which valuing the status of the artist is becoming increasingly acute. At the same time, we are confronted with the urgency of involving communities and being socially relevant. How can we create a space where respecting the professional artist coexists with celebrating the everyday creator, where highlighting the social responsibility of the arts is not paired with their instrumentalisation, and where audience development is understood and rethought in a variety of ways and not solely in funders’ jargon?

Organised in collaboration with Rijeka 2020 - European Capital of Culture, our Autumn Plenary Meeting in Rijeka deepened and challenged the most common understanding of the broad, complex and fascinating theme of Audiences. The subject was explored from different angles through 25 sessions where 317 participants could voice their opinion and fuel the discussions with their own expertise and experience. The meeting also offered participants the opportunity to take part in artistic walks and discover some of the great projects developed in the framework of Rijeka 2020. 

Our local partners compiled an inspiring artistic programme that allowed us to embrace the local performing arts scene and get familiar with the city’s cultural life. And what would be an IETM meeting without a set of informal networking activities? Be it the welcome reception, daytime meeting space or late-night meeting point, Newsround sessions or speed-dating exercise, participants were given the chance to greet new members, establish new partnerships and meet old friends.

 

Image in banner: ©Tanja Kanazir