International incubator program for emerging professionals in the independent performing arts scene.
Next Stage is a newly formed collaboration between three emerging producers’ teams and their associated organisations: Mara Nedelcu and Franziska Hauser (DE)/ Nedelcu & Hauser Gbr; Brigitta Kovács (HU)/ Workshop Foundation; Nikos Mavrakis (GR)/ TooFarEast.
The project is built on the notion to foster sustainable support structures in the performing arts that can serve as a safety net and solid background for emerging and mid-career artists in Europe. The partners offer an international incubation program for a new generation of managers, who can collaborate with more experienced colleagues to create safe spaces and sustainable career paths for emerging and mid-career artists. It aims to strengthen the resilience of micro-organisations and associated artists.
The initiators are key professionals in their respective local communities, and already have great experience in the international performing arts scene as well. They are currently in the 5-15 years experience point of their career, working with several artists and organizations in the field, however, they are experiencing a barrier to upscale their activities due to the sectoral and political challenges.
The project offers an incubation for their management initiatives through three main pillars:
- Young Creatives Incubation Program: On-the-job upskilling program that offers a holistic overview of the international performing arts scene for emerging and newcomer managers.
- Backstage Club – Knowledge sharing events: An international workshop series tackling key aspects of international collaborations: fair practices considering the different cultural and socio-political contexts; cross-border collaborations in time of environmental crisis; diversity aspects.
- International mobility opportunities: To expand the international network of cultural managers and associated artists, offer dialogue opportunities with international peers and improve the visibility of the Eastern European performing arts field in the sector.
During multiplier events, the partners would share their experience and methodology with their international peers to tackle the burning issue in the performing arts scene: management capacity building.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
