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 closes a chapter and opens a new one:
 

The New International in the Performing Arts (NIPA) is 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, will focus 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. 
 

In Den Bosch, we will celebrate 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 - will deliver keynote speeches to provoke and inspire our thinking. 

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

• The Rules of the Game, which asks 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 ask ourselves what we should and can do as a global performing arts community to transform the current economic and political systems.

Additionally, there will be plenty of opportunities for networking and to enjoy everything our host and co-organiser Verkadefabriek – the cultural hotspot of Den Bosch - has to offer. Verkadefabriek invites 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. Verkadefabriek also offers art house movies, a restaurant and a club!

Registrations are now open for both IETM members and non members. You can already start planning your trip to and in Den Bosch by consulting our practical information page. We urgently recommend you to book your accommodation as soon as possible, since accommodation in the city is limited.

REGISTER NOW

Maximum capacity: 200

Want to make the most of your time in the Netherlands?
 

Verkadefabriek has identified some festivals you might be interested in exploring, happening at the same time or just before IETM Focus Den Bosch:

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

We can all remember as children staring at something with wide eyes and open mouth because we were so enchanted by what we saw. At Festival De Betovering (literally translated as ‘the spell’ or ‘the enchantment’), children are able to immerse themselves in that magic. There are children's activities on offer for more than a week in various places in The Hague, all around the theme of art. From crazy dance performances to street theatre that will leave you in stitches, this outing is a fun first introduction to art and culture for many children.

Festival Circolo in Tilburg: 18 - 27 October

This Tilburg festival is all about circus! Festival Circolo is a far cry from the classic high-top tent with clowns. It explores 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) is the podium for high-quality design. DDW is all about the design of the future and the future of design. DDW opens up, inspires, shares and connects. During this nine-day event, Eindhoven is completely dedicated to design and covers all possible disciplines and aspects of design. The emphasis is on expertise and talent, experiment, innovation and crossovers. Dutch Design Week is also the 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 is happening as part of our Creative Europe project The New International in the Performing Arts (NIPA): Bridging local and global.