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13.07.2022 #performing arts #residency

Future Laboratory, a new European network for the performing arts

The Future Laboratory was presented this Wednesday, July 13 at the Caserne des Pompiers as part of the Festival OFF in Avignon.

This new program brings together 12 European performing arts institutions that are committed to international creation and connect to discover the European narratives of tomorrow and better integrate marginalized, isolated and disengaged communities into the research and creation processes.

Over the course of 30 months, 15 artists will be selected to participate in three research residencies in three partner institutions in three different cities. Each selected artist will be allocated a dedicated partner institution who will contract them for the duration of the project. Dedicated partner institutions will be from the country the artist is applying from or one of the other partners institutions from the network.

Each host institution will offer the artists the opportunity to connect with local resources – research organizations, foundations, artists, members of their communities… – so they can explore the socio-political realities in each partner theatre and its cities. In each city, local mentors will act as facilitators, guides for the artists to make sure that they meet the objectives of the residencies and that they make the most efficient use of the available contacts and resources.

Each artist will see themselves allocated a project coach by their dedicated partner institution, who will guide them on their entire journey and work with them in between residencies, support their research as well as their learning and capacity building.

Throughout this project, partners will be seeking to work with a range of artists including those from underrepresented and underserved communities. Factors will include gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age, and socio-economic background.

The overall objective for the artists is to formulate a project idea that matches their own artistic convictions and that will be the result of their research and experience.
This idea will emerge as they progress with their research and will be based on the most urgent issues they have identified around the larger theme of social inclusion and fed by new and missing narratives they feel need to be told on our stages tomorrow.
At the end of the project, the artists will have the opportunity to present their concept idea for a production to the partner institutions at a closing symposium.

The 15 artists were presented on Wednesday, July 13. Céline Camara has been selected for Luxembourg.