Producers' Academy 2025 international seminar

A learning lab for international producers working with participatory projects and/or contextualized work.

The Producers' Academy is a dedicated time to reflect, think, co-learn, encounter, and question the practice of the producer. With open minds and open hearts, integrity and fun, this four-day seminar delves into the current urgencies and issues around producing work and being a producer.

It takes place during Kunstenfestivaldesarts, an international performing arts festival in Brussels and is also just after the arts in the city festival, OPENBARE WERKEN in Gent.

(image : Jean-Marc Virgin)

A focus on producing participatory projects and/or contextualized work

This year, the Producers' Academy will focus on practices of producing participatory projects and/or contextualized work.

Facilitated by curator and dramaturg Bek Berger (DE), these four days will be dedicated to tackling some of the ethical questions linked with participation and public space, enlightened by the perspective of the producer Cecilia Kuska (AR/BE). We will also learn methodologies to support collaborative work within projects, such as Action Learning with Rachel Nelken (UK) and Delia Barker (UK).

The different subjects will be explored while talking, listening, walking or playing, using the expertise of inspirational guests and the knowledge within the room.

Applications and conditions

Criteria of eligibility

The Producers’ Academy is open to:

• Special focus and priority to producers* who are working in/with public space and/or participatory projects

• Are also invited to apply producers/cultural entrepreneurs who have developed or are in the process of developing innovative way(s) to support creation in an international dimension and/or with a trans-sectorial approach (decolonisation, feminism, fair practices, climate change, accessibility, etc.)

• Producers from all nationalities

• People who have at least five years of experience as a producer in the performing arts** sector

• The event will be held exclusively in English. Therefore, participants need to be able to understand, communicate and work in English.

Producers: supervise, support, follow an artist or a collective/company.
*Performing arts: are excluded from this definition opera and music-only related projects.

If you have any question regarding your eligibility, please get in touch with Beth Gordon: beth@cifas.be

Conditions

Participation is free of charge (full programme + lunches during the four days + 2 performances).

We do not take in charge travel and accommodation costs*. We can send official invitation letters to those who wish to activate ways to support their participation costs. Our partner On the Move can provide advice and guidance about available mobility support programmes for selected participants.

* Travel support can be considered on an exceptional basis, see below.

Bursaries

Cifas offers a limited number of travel grants to support producers from countries where little or no financial support is available for international mobility.