by Ksenija Đurović and Jovana Marković, Bitef, Belgrade, Serbia

The session ‘Mapping the Queer International'’ explored the possibilities of global cooperation, support and fostering of queer art and queer artists. An open and anonymised discussion touched on the complexities of perceiving the term ‘queer’ followed by queer identities, in particular those of queer artists and the ways they are reflected in art practices. The discussion centred on the personal experiences of the speakers, who were encouraged to abstain from generalisations and commonplace sentiments and speak from their genuine multilayered viewpoints knowing their identities will remain anonymous. The participants examined different safety concerns specific to queer artists and queer cultural venues, and highlighted the importance of safeguarded networks and interpersonal connections which help queer artists with staying informed while navigating unfamiliar regions. 

Divided into break-out groups, the panellists worked through several mapping prompts through open discussions. The groups created maps of the most and least queer and queer-friendly cities and venues, as well as queer-identified performing arts institutions and festivals. The maps created during the session will be made available to IETM members, but it will not be publicly available as it may jeopardise the safety of contributors. 

Moderators: Israel Aloni (iL Dance, Sweden), Ted Witzel (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Canada), Martina Apostolova (Artist, Bulgaria) and Marion Darova (Artist, Bulgaria)