Important announcement concerning IETM Tromsø
Dear IETM members and Tromsø participants,
It is with heavy heart that I have to announce to you that we are forced to cancel the Tromsø Plenary Meeting (30 April – 3 May 2020). Norwegian authorities have issued a ban on events as well as severe restrictions on international travel to Norway, leaving IETM with no other option than to cancel the meeting. You can read more about it here.
The last few days have been a real roller coaster at the Secretariat office in Brussels, with new information coming in by the hour.
We have had long dialogues with our partners in Norway and we have already started to imagine how we could host key sessions via digital means and possibly, smaller gatherings of members. We will update you with more information as soon as we can.
We have to put our efforts in finding alternative solutions and we are determined to do so. Perhaps, at the end of day, we will invent new ways of communicating during these unprecedented times, which will prove useful and valuable in the future.
While my focus is on finding the best way forward for our network, my thoughts are with the thousands of members who, due to the closure of venues and events, have difficult weeks and months ahead. IETM will be initiating a dialogue about the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and what we, as a sector, can do to overcome the aftermath.
We have compiled a series of answers to questions you might have related to the cancellation of the meeting on this page. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any other questions.
Yours,
Ása
This is a very sad news. Not unexpected, maybe, but in some way it makes the situation more real than ever.
This is the time to support each other and to strenght our network on a real, profound level: we must be ready to support the Secretariat in every action that could allow us to mantain alive not only our work, but also our friendship.
Wish you all health and bravery
thank you dear Cristina!
So sorry to read, but not a surprise. Concerned not only about your disappointment - knowing how much energy & time the team will have spent on organising this meeting - but also about the financial implications for our network... Let's use this set-back to realise how vulnerable we are - as humans, as artists - and when standing together is needed most.
Thank you Nan. The financial conditions concerned the meeting are certainly high on our mind and we are already investigating our options. I am optimistic we will find a way. The financial impact of closure of thousands of venues, cancellations of large and small events and the total uncertainty the indepentent sector, in particular, is up against, is huge. We have to face this reality, support each other and yes - stand together!
Dear Ása, the team in Brussels and Tromsø
I am sorry to hear that the meeting had to be canceled. I know how much work everyone puts into making a plenary meeting and now even more work to sort out the aftermath of cancellation. Like Nan, I too am concerned with the financial impact that this cancelation will have on the network. Is there any kind of insurance in place to cover the damage? Please do not hesitate to shout out if there is anything we can help with. Take good care of yourselves.
Thank you Vahid, we certainly will be coming to the membership for answers and ideas on how we all go through this Covidstorm!
Dear Ása,
I am confident in our capacity, as a network, to face this situation. Our role in supporting the sector itself in finding solutions becomes our duty. Strong friendship, creativity, resilience capacities, global and local awareness are our strenghts.
Amitiés to the teams in Brussels and Tromsø
thank you Dear Nicolas, you are so right friendship, creativity, resilience an awareness of our strengths, all qualities we should cultivate in the coming weeks and months .. cyberhug Ása