Focus on Asia – Dynamics of the Performing Arts in Asia

Following the series Cartography of Residences – Encounters Between Germany and Latin America in October and December of this year, we are changing our focus in January: in the direction of Asia! The goal is to create a shared space for professional exchange, support mutual understanding and sustainably support international collaboration in the field of the independent performing arts in Berlin.

With Focus on Asia, we will turn our gaze to the dynamics of the Asian market and, together with experts, examine the opportunities, challenges and possible paths toward international collaboration in the region.

The program will bring an introductory presentation by Godlive Lawani, an independent curator, distributor, manager and expert in the performing arts in Asia. Lawani will provide initial insight into the Asian market and present a selection of the most important trade fairs, festivals and platforms in Asia. She will moderate the program, together with Catherine Launay from the Berlin Performing Arts Program.

Following this, experts will introduce leading platforms, festivals and networks which connection the Asian community with the international independent performing arts. This includes representatives from South Korea (Project Dari, Arts in Public Spaces), Thailand (Bangkok International Performing Arts Meeting – BIPAM), Singapore (The Esplanade Co Ltd), Hong Kong (Tai Kwun), Japan (Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting – YPAM) and Taiwan (Taipei Performing Arts Festival). In addition, interactive sessions and a shared final discussion will offer the opportunity to reflect upon current trends, exchange strategies and discuss the changing conditions that mark international collaboration with the Asian performing arts sector. With this, we are looking to support professional exchange and initiate new cooperations.

Programme

9:00–10:00 am
Introduction & Lecture

With: Catherine Launay (Berlin Performing Arts Program) & introductory lecture by Godlive Lawani (independent curator, distributor, manager)

10:00–10:30 am
Tai Kwun – Hong Kong

With: Scarlet Mak

Scarlet is a dedicated producer at Tai Kwun, Hong Kong, specializing in contemporary circus, outdoor arts, theatre, contemporary dance, and cross-disciplinary programmes. She has played a pivotal role in producing varies circus festivals and performing arts seasons, contributing to over 50 productions.

With over 10 years of experience in the performing arts, she previously worked at Chung Ying Theatre and Artistree, where they specialized in large-scale repertoire and cross-disciplinary theatre productions. Passionate about fostering creativity both locally and globally, Scarlet has a keen interest in international collaboration, bringing diverse artistic visions to life and bridging cultural boundaries through innovative performances.

10:30–11:00 am
The Esplanade Co Ltd – Singapore

With: Faith Tan (director, programming for dance, theatre, visual arts & international development)

Faith Tan has over 20 years of programming, producing, management and international networking experience in the performing arts. She was Head of Programme Development at Dance House Helsinki, Finland in 2020, where she co-initiated a commission programme for new dance productions by Finnish dancemakers. She is currently Co-Programming Director in Singapore’s national arts centre, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, overseeing Dance, Theatre, Visual Arts and International Development.

Under her direction, Esplanade’s da:ns festival and series in Singapore co-produced productions by world renowned artists, commissioned and championed new work from significant Asian dancemakers, supported the practice of dramaturgs for dance, presented a large public participatory programme, as well as an artist lab and seminar workshops. Tan’s work at Esplanade included overseeing the Theatre department between 2017 – 2019, and programming music for the Mosaic Music Festival from 2005 – 2012. She is a founding member of the Asian Network for Dance (AND+) and serves on panels for grants from the National Arts Council in Singapore. Tan holds a Masters degree in Arts and Cultural Management.
 

11:00–11:30 am
Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting, YPAM – Japan

With: Tomoyuki Arai (Senior Program Officer bei YPAM)

Born in Yokohama in 1974, Tomoyuki Arai holds a BA in Literature and an MA in Theatre and Film Art from Waseda University. After archival work at the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, technical work with Gekidan Kaitaisha, and video production for movements for contingent workers’ labor unions and the abolition of nuclear weapons, he joined PARC – Japan Center, Pacific Basin Arts Communication, where directed Sound Live Tokyo from 2014 to 2016 and has served as (Senior) Program Officer at YPAM – Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting since 2017. Since 2019 he has dramaturged several works by Singaporean visual artist Ho Tzu Nyen.

11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Taipei Arts Festival, ADAM, Camping Asia – Taiwan/Indonesia

With: River Lin

With: River Lin (artist & curator, Paris/Taipei), ADAM (a networking event launched in 2017 by the Taipei Performing Arts Center, aiming to create a new arts platform in the Asia-Pacific region), Camping Asia (Camping Asia brings together art students from Asia and Europe for workshops, performances, and morning classes, with a school presentation on the sixth day)

Working with Live Art, dance, visual art, and queer culture, Paris-based Taiwanese artist River Lin is Curator of the Taipei Arts Festival, ADAM, Camping Asia, and Curatoké: Performance Curator Academy at the Taipei Performing Arts Center. He is Co-Curator of the Indonesian Dance Festival (since 2022), Guest-Curator of the 2025 Biennale de la Danse de Lyon. He works closely with artists and is an advocate for pressing issues, cultural space, and infrastructure in curatorial work. His artistic work has been presented internationally by Centre Pompidou, Centre National de la Danse, Live Art Prize, M+ Museum, and Taipei Fine Arts Museum, among others.

12:00–12:30 pm
Bangkok International Performing Arts, BIPAM – Thailand

With: Peangdao Jariyapun (project manager, communications at BIPAM)

Peangdao Jariyapun (Yoi) is a producer and researcher holding an M.A. in Dramatic Arts from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. A key member of BIPAM and co-founder of the Thai Theatre Foundation, she works across research, production, festivals, and advocacy to support Thailand’s theatre ecosystem with a particular focus on widening arts access for regional and rural communities. She also teaches theatre and arts management at universities. Her ongoing commitment is to improve long-term career sustainability for theatre practitioners.

12:30–1:00 pm
Lunch Break

1:00–1:30 pm
Project Dari (Arts in Public Spaces) – South Korea

With: Jin Yim

Jin Yim is an independent producer and researcher based in South Korea. She has worked on a wide range of art projects including performance, theater, and multidisciplinary arts in various spaces. Her main interests are in the arts in public spaces and international mobility for performing arts. 

1:30–2:30 pm
Panel Discussion

With: Jin Yim, River Lin, Peangdao Jariyapun

2:30–3:00 pm
Closing

Registration

Participation is free of charge. Please register in advance by January 16, 2026 at catherine.launay [at] pap-berlin.de.

Access

The event will take place online via Zoom. The participation link will be sent by email a few days before the event.

Language

The program will be held in English spoken language. Simultaneous translation into German spoken language is available upon request. For this, please send a message by January 10, 2026, to catherine.launay [at] pap-berlin.de.