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

© Thomas Arran
28 - 31.03.2019

IETM Hull 2019 explored the reality of inclusion in today’s societies, in their artistic representations and in the process of creation. We examined issues around race, ethnicity, faith, disability, age, gender, sexuality, class and economic disadvantage and any social and institutional barriers that  prevent people from participating in and enjoying the arts as an integral part of the societies they live in. We asked ourselves the question: is involving everyone something we want to deliver in theory but something we find hard to deliver in practice?  We also debated the language used and whether terms like “inclusion” are more problematic than helpful. Since one size does not fit all, we asked our participants who do they choose to include? How do they deliver this practically in their work?

We started from the principle that, for the arts to survive and thrive, we need to have spaces and places to have positive discussions and debates about these issues. We need to have time to talk about our approaches to ensuring our work is for everyone. Alongside this we need to keep talking about how we make and keep international partnerships and collaborations going, especially when things are constantly changing politically. It is thus not an accident that IETM Hull began on the eve of the very day that the UK was supposed to leave the European Union; we aspired to express our solidarity to our UK-based colleagues and to overcome political barriers in these times of uncertainty.

Absolutely Cultured, our cultural colleagues in this city and our partners, Arts Council England and the British Council, warmly welcomed us in the East Yorkshire city of Hull to both challenge and champion these issues. IETM Hull reflected the complex journey we are all on, with an exciting and innovative programme of talks, debates, performances, networking opportunities and more - all placed within Hull, a city with creative and progressive ambitions.

A set of artistic walks and dinners with local artists allowed us to get familiar with the local performing arts scene as well as to immerse ourselves in the inspiring streets of UK’s 2017 City of Culture. What’s more, the city offered us an uplifting programme of boundary-breaking and thought-provoking artistic performances destined to raise awareness on the fragile yet challenging theme of inclusion. The (net)working sessions also gave participants the chance to establish new meaningful partnerships and international professional connections aimed at advocating for more inclusive practices in the performing arts sector.

 

Image in banner: © Thomas Arran