Imagining Futures
2021–2024
Imagining Futures was a European network of independent performance festivals from the UK and the EU. Through dialogue on climate change, sustainability, representation, care and artistic development, the participating organisations explored new forms of collaboration and festival production. Joint experimental commissioned works translated the topics discussed into artistic practice.
Imagining Futures brought together dynamic and experimental festivals and fostered collaboration within the sector. The aim was to forge new connections, support artistic development and strengthen an open international dialogue at a time of growing social and political barriers.
In a series of online meetings, the participating festivals discussed key issues influencing artistic decisions and festival organisation, and explored innovative formats for the future. The focus included, amongst other things, climate change, care, representation, sustainability, artist development, funding, pace, rhythm and risk. Key discussions were documented and shared with colleagues from the cultural sector. In addition, the festivals received funding to initiate joint experimental commissions that responded to the shared values and topics discussed.
The network’s core group comprised festival directors from five UK festivals and five festivals from EU countries. Four further festivals from EU countries, as well as London-based cultural institutions, participated as associate members.
EUNIC credit
Funding for Imagining Futures was secured through EUNIC Global (European Union National Institutes for Culture), the European network of organisations engaging in cultural relations. Together with their partners, they brought to life European cultural collaboration in more than 90 countries worldwide with a network of over 120 clusters, drawing on the broad experience of their members from all EU member states and associate countries. The nine EUNIC London member institutes who were actively working on the programme represented Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland.