7 Strategies for More Inclusive and Green Touring
This summer, our partner IDEA Consult had a closer look at what the selected partnerships are working on – the topics, issues, and audiences they address, and the goals they have set. The analysis went beyond Perform Europe’s core priorities – Inclusion & Diversity, and The Fight Against Climate Change – to examine the unique aspects of each project.
To uncover the visions behind the 42 Perform Europe projects, IDEA Consult dived deep into their proposals and artistic concepts. They focused on how these projects define themselves, engage with their communities, and adopt innovative forms of touring.
As a result, seven key strategies stood out reflecting the creative ways these projects tackle some of the performing arts’ biggest challenges.
Each strategy represents a different angle and they often intersect within one project. They are not just theoretical ideas; they are building blocks for real impact, each one a stepping stone towards a better future for the performing arts.
The 7 strategies of change
1. The Lens of Embodied Subjectivity
© (M)others on Tour
The idea of embodied subjectivity describes how individuals experience the world through their physical bodies, emphasising the material situation of the individual, and how the connection between the body and the mind shapes a person’s perceptions and interactions with the environment. More than half of the selected projects emphasise lived experiences, using the connection between the personal and the bodily to explore social inequalities and hierarchies. They focus on telling stories from marginalised communities and addressing societal or ecological challenges through the immediacy of physical experience.
⚪️ Examples: (M)others on Tour • Boys Just Want to Have Some Fun • Diversely Typical
2. Research Focus
© Loïc Nys
Several projects centre around in-depth research, often integrating scientific exploration into their artistic practices. Whether dealing with diversity and inclusion or climate change, these projects rely on research as a key element of their approach. Some have already conducted significant research in preparation for their work, while others plan to involve research during their residencies. Collaborations with academic institutions and other stakeholders are often integral, with a focus on engaging audiences through research findings.
⚪️ Examples: Manual of Adaptation to the Planet • The Mountain Range, Beyond Borders • Buried Secrets
3. Alternative Formats
© Ivanka Kate Yakovyna
A substantial number of projects are experimenting with performance formats that challenge conventional boundaries. These initiatives seek to engage audiences in innovative, participatory ways, often using unconventional environments or settings. By incorporating audience input or interaction, these projects offer new forms of engagement that go beyond traditional performance models.
⚪️ Examples: HAND IN HAND • Greenhouse • The Metis Method
4. Rethinking Touring Models
© Antonin Artaud Fellowship
Sustainability is a priority for many of the selected projects, with several actively rethinking touring practices. These projects aim to reduce their environmental impact by spending extended periods in local communities, exploring virtual alternatives to physical touring, and engaging with local artists and professionals. This approach also allows for deeper connections with the communities they visit, fostering knowledge exchange and capacity-building while minimising the carbon footprint of traditional touring.
⚪️ Examples: Boreal: Slow Conversations Between Trees and People • Performing Memory • From The First Step: A Rooted Tour
5. Community Fostering
© Tale Hendnes
Many projects are placing a strong emphasis on community involvement, particularly with underrepresented groups. These initiatives aim to create spaces where marginalised or less-served communities, for example, rural populations, children, queer, BIPOC, or displaced individuals can engage with the performing arts. Some projects focus on fostering relationships with local professionals or scientific audiences, leveraging these connections to address broader environmental or social issues.
⚪️ Examples: CONNECTING SILENT VOICES • Transgeographical Hydro Bodies • When the Bleeding Stops
6. Network Strengthening
© Maciej Zakrzewski
Long-term collaboration and network building are key priorities for many of the selected partnerships. These projects aim to establish sustainable connections that extend beyond individual performances, focusing on resource efficiency and long-lasting relationships with partners. By relying on pre-existing networks and models, they aim to create a sustainable impact that persists beyond the scope of the project itself.
⚪️ Examples: Bringing Family Theatre to Villages across Europe • Dance ALL IN • Spreading the Roots
7. Community Empowerment
© Eduard Liashenko
A notable portion of the selected projects is dedicated to engaging with disempowered groups, including youth, racialised communities, disabled and neurodiverse individuals, and those affected by conflict or displacement. These groups are not only seen as vulnerable or marginalised but are also recognised as key actors capable of bringing about meaningful social and ecological change. The projects often involve these communities in both the creation and performance processes, encouraging their active participation in shaping new narratives and solutions.
⚪️ Examples: HOME • European Roma Theater Festivals • ALASKA
Key Themes Summarised – Local and Personal as the New Global
• There is a clear focus on local, personal, and embodied experiences, particularly those of historically marginalised communities. These experiences are not only being represented in the content of the performances, but are also central to the processes of production and engagement.
• Additionally, there is a strong emphasis on experimenting with sustainable and community-oriented production models. Many of the projects are using the opportunity to explore greener and more rooted approaches to both performance and touring, aiming to connect more deeply with local communities.
• Finally, youth and marginalised groups are highlighted as critical actors in envisioning and implementing alternative social and ecological realities. The projects recognise the potential of these groups to lead change, not only as subjects of artistic exploration but as indispensable contributors to new ways of thinking and living.
* Cover photo: Project ‘Greenhouse’
* Strategies researched by Eglė Valintėlytė (IDEA Consult). Learn more about the Perform Europe Learning Trajectory and the blog, developed with IDEA Consult below.
