Get on board of IETM Hull
IETM and our partners in the UK have just embarked in a journey to the shore of Hull and a meeting entirely dedicated to the theme of inclusion.
Beyond assessing inequalities, discriminations and accessibility issues, what are your propositions to set a frame for an inclusive performing arts sector? What other social models can you teach us about? How can our sector be more present and gain recognition in todays societies?
Your engagement, as a member, is a milestone in our journey to inclusion and an inspiring meeting in Hull.
Share your ideas below or by email at victor.mayot@ietm.org.
Hi Victor,
I don't have much experience with the topic but I know of a toolkit created by the Arts Council England that helps employers recruit and develop diverse talent: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/culture-change-toolk…
It would be interesting to hear examples of what organisations in other countries are doing on that front.
All the best,
Ben
Hi Ben,
thank you for sharing this valuable document. When talking of inclusion, workforce off stage is a crucial element. We won't miss to include this in the programme of Hull.
Dear Victor,
Fernando Bittencourt made me aware of your announcement. I was in contact with him - amongst others - about this subject and he mentioned that you were looking for input for the IETM in Hull.
Like in the rest of the world, inclusion is also top priority in the art world in The Netherlands at the moment. Although the discussion mainly foccusses on the topic of diversity (we have a "code culturele diversiteit" in The Netherlands), also accesibiltiy (audience/makers), focus on gender (programmes) and disability productions which include dancers and "disabled or non-dancers" are being created and stimulated. The UK is for us an important role model regarding the last focus ("empowering").
For me, the topic is larger than a specific programme or cultural production / investment, it has to do with the feeling of wanting to be part of something, part of a community and the feeling of home. What home is and where home is, could be interesting to address at the IETM, where also the connection to the global migration could be made. But, if you feel that is too broad, I would more than willing to give you input on what is happening on the different (race, gender, accessiblity etc) elements in the Netherlands. If so, please dont hesitate to contact me.
Furthermore - just a thought - maybe it is interesting to ask the members of IETM (the ones who could afford this) to bring a guest with them. This could be an artist, citizen, family member. This would open the network (and be broader than just art) and would show inclusion at its best... just a thought.
With kind regards,
Gemma Jelier (Korzo)
Hi Gemma,
thank you for your input and suggestions.
The question of "feeling at home" that you raise will be transversal to the programme of Hull, but will also be at the heart of the Satellite meeting that will follow in Milan about language barriers.
As for your suggestion that IETM members bring a guest, it implies some administrative management we have been discussing internaly for a while now, and we aim to make a proposition to the membership on how to handle it during the general assembly. I assume you will vote in favour of it.
Looking forward to seeing you in Hull.
Hi Victor, Hi members,
Thank you for opening the conversation.
I am personally very intrigued by the option of diversity. I think that we all, artists or not, have our limits and when we speak of "diversity" there is often an undercurrent of another agenda.
I am interested in addressing the elephant in the room and interrogating the situation in a way that could potentially help us understand whether diversity as such is indeed something that we, the contemporary performing arts filed as a whole as well as we, each one of us individually, would like to propose.
I think we all have got our limits and we are "open minded" or "generous" as long as our "red lines" are not crossed. So I would suggest to speak about the notion of diversity as such and its relevance in the world at our time. I know that this sounds like a provocation but actually, this is a sincere concern to the confusion between diversifying and homogenising.
After all, if art is really genuine and daring, it potentially addresses a few tabus and holly cows. The more sharp edge, contemporary, innovative, progressive and saturated the art is, the less likely it is to appeal to a "broad" and "diverse" audiences.
So, what are these red lines? Who gets to set these red lines? Where is one person's freedom ends and another person's begins? What if in order to include one group of people in arts and cultural activities we have to exclude another?
I would have really enjoyed knowing that the conversation in Hull will not begin with "how can we make what we do available for more diverse audiences?" but rather begin with "Should we make what we do accessible for more diverse audiences by default and if so, why?"
I believe that asking ourselves why would lead us to how. All these significant and impactful terms such as diversity, inclusion, accessibility and community are too trendy to really have a meaning by virtu. The definition of these extremely significant words are more often than not described by stake holders and funding bodies more than they are defined by artists or culture workers. We are blinded by the demands of the stake holders to reach wide audiences. This is another form of contemporary capitalism and neoliberalism. We need to allow art to speak for itself and artists to choose whether they want their voice to speak to the mass (could be a synonym to “diverse audiences”) or to be specific and tailored.
So, what is diversity? Who can say what is diverse enough? Who chooses the basis of comparison and judgement? Are many people of different heights make a diverse audience? Are people who are political enemies make significant diversity? Who is there to say what are the important basis of judgement?
And, why should audience/participants/viewers of arts and cultural activities be diverse? I am certain that we will get very different answers to these questions. These answers can be a very solid ground on which we can then develop and build the rest of the discourse for the following meetings/sessions in Hull.
Assuming that we all agree on the notion of diversity, what it is and how important it is, in itself is exclusive and colonising if you think about it.
So, can we actually have a diverse group of people discussing diversity without some people who are opposed to the notion of diversity in a whole?
In the past I have given the example of religious beliefs. Why don't we have any radical religious people in IETM? What if a group of extremists religious people would like to join our activities and would request that all women cover themselves and do not speak/sing in public? Would we in IETM tolerate that because we value diversity?
So, my suggestion is to actually speak about whether we (the people in the arts and culture sector) genuinely want to work on the diversity of our audience and communities or are we blackmailed by the stake holders to the point that we can not even recognise how we have become puppets in their hands?
Let one thing be very clear. I am a queer individual and I strongly believe in the equality of all humans. I believe that real equality is the mutual respect and value or every human as they are. I do not believe that we all have to be the same to live in piece but rather, strive to harmonious coexistence which celebrates the differences between cultures and communities. I think that not all humans must think or believe the same. I believe that all humans are truly free when they allow themselves to be different from one another and occasionally, disagree with one another. It is coexistence and mutual respect that are the kind of values I believe are key for healthy society rather than narrating the reality of our society through specific tells. But I am very realistic and I know that just because this is my opinion, doesn’t mean that this is the ultimate one. Diversity is a trendy aspiration. I would like to approach its roots and examine the needs and wants that led us to prioritise it above other options. Perhaps then we will be led by sincere and genuine motivation which will be perpetuated in the art that we make and the ways in which we disseminate it rather than being a diplomatic/political catch phrase.
These would be my contributions. I know it is a fresh view, but those who have already met me, know that I like to go to the core of things rather than manicure the problem with shiny decorations.
Would love to hear what other colleagues and peers around the world think about this.
I hope this helps somehow.
Warm regars
Israel Aloni
Dear Israel,
as usual your critical thinking is much welcome in the conversations, as speaker, moderator or member.
The question of whether diversity as such is something that the contemporary performing arts filed as a whole as well as we individually want to propose seems to me to be the red line of the whole programme we are shapping. I don't think any session will be much constructive if we take inclusion for granted and never put into question the reasons that bring us to be inclusive. With that and your point in mind, I will give directions to the moderators and speakers.
With the partners in Hull, we were already planning to start the meeting by confronting ourselves with the limits of our open-mindness. Here as well, I don't think anyone would benefit from discussions in the meeting if we discuss only what we all agree on or doesn't dare to disagree with by political correctness. I completely agree with the way you introduce it and I would be very glad if you would like to co-moderate this topic (co-moderation for the sake of diversity). Let's try to make sure you will be attending the meeting in Hull. In worst case, be sure that your input will feed the programme.
All the very best for 2019.
Reading Israels contribution I can only agree and it is rather hard to supplement this. He points to a lot of the problems in this dicussion.
Are we following request from funding bodies instead of creating space for a diversity of artistic expressions of art?
Do we fall into the pitfall of searching for some common base - that certainly is not there is the arts - to be inclusive to all?
It is a sensitive topic - if we dare to open it and be brave we can move the agenda. If we start discussion it on terms that are not benficial to the artistic practices we can fall into endless useless discussions.
Inclusion in our field for me is supporting artists to find their own language, to investigate in its different expressions and allowing them to have very narrow audience approached - because only by treating people different do we really aim for inclusion and diversity.
Yes there are also more political strategies to actually make sure that funding bodies and institutions are open and dont reproduce old patterns (and they still do in so many ways without even having awareness of it even in countries like Denmark, who should have some equality and do have inclusion politics).
There are maybe two dicussions (or more) - to adress where difference and inequality is clearly defined and how we politically adress that. And then the more subtle and next level - how do we actually change the mindset and habits of generations (this is the art speaking, where we have force and meaning)? The later is a much longer and refined revolution - it is a complete chanhe in thinking.
I remember working in Egypt during the revolution with Nora Amin, and she said something like: Now we have made the revolution, now we need to change the minds of people with our art, otherwise we will fall back to our old forms. This obligation is enormous for us - something we really dont take seriously.
Just some thoughts here in the wintercold - also thinking after several of these discussions in IETM - we need to aknowledge that we are in different stages on this subject around Europe. We pretend to be the same - but in the nordic countries we dont have to fight for abortion and childcare fex - which I do admit is crucial for equality between the sexes. We have gay rights and can marry anyone we want. We dont have to cover our bodies on stage (somewhat a problem that we often have to alter our performances when touring international).
Lets start from who we truly are and how we can unfold that :)
Dear Susanne,
I would have read your comment before answering Israel, I would have adresse my reply to you as well.
If you are willing to moderate a session, I can revise the programme and make some propositions to you. In any case, I count on you, as a member I value in her work and values, to enrich the debate from the audience and initiate the shift of mindsets and habits in IETM.
All the very best for 2019.
Dear Victor
I will be happy to moderate a meeting - or commit in other ways you need. Just had some interesting talks here in Melbourne also on trying to understand diversity and the formining of the subject from a physological point.
I am just going to mention that Israels new solowork My Body my Nation, thats adresses some of these subjects are opening in Bristol on 25/3 just before the Hull meeting - could it be an idea to find a space for this performance in the IETM program? Knowing that normally it is local artists performing. But just such a change.
Look forward to these discussions.
Susanne
Hi there - just meet a really interesting woman at the Sydney Festival Vicki Amedume - director of a london based circus company - www.upswing.org.uk - she started talking about the complexity of diversity - great head for a dicussion - and she had some interesting things to say being a female black working in a upcoming field. So I suggest her for a panel for Hull.