Not (Just) Another Pitching Session – Berlin Performing Arts Market 2024

The first Berlin Performing Arts Market will be held on May 13, 2024 at Colonia Nova in Neukölln, and offers Berlin-based artists and producers with production and touring experience the opportunity to enter into contact with curators and presenters in order to, amongst other possibilities, arrange for one or the other guest performances. Invited are among other the Bridging the Scenes network of independent performing arts festivals in Berlin, Prague, Sofia and Copenhagen, the network FESTIVALFRIENDS, Kreativ Transfer/ Dachverband Tanz Deutschland and LAFT Brandenburg.
 
The schedule of events will be bookended by a round of introductions of platforms and trade fairs that are already established in the morning (including, amongst others, tanzmesse nrw, CINARS, WIPcoop Brüssel, Edinburgh Fringe, INTHEGA) as well as an in-depth exchange format in the form of a fishbowl conversation in the evening. There, questions will be discussed such as: what makes the attendance of trade fairs and networking platforms worth it for presenters and curators that have to travel a long distance for these events? Who and what can be presented in what manner at these platforms? To what extent can trade fairs help the independent performing arts to achieve more visibility overall? And why can all of this continue to make sense, also in consideration of the imperative of sustainability?

With its pilot edition this year, the Market is dedicating itself as a field of experimentation committed to the question: how can artistic work be presented to a professional audience in an original and creative way without presenting the art itself?
We sought answers to this question through a recently concluded open call, explicitly intended at artists/groups with production and touring experience and a work focus in Berlin. We are delighted to present the results with contributions from Annalisa Derossi, Dmytro Grynov, Gob Squad, Josephine Hock, Joy Alpuerto Ritter, Juliet Julia*n Meding / ANTISEPT, Markus&Markus Theaterkollektiv, Martha Hincapie Charry, Post Theater, Reza Mirabi, Sounding Situations and The Velvet Creepers, among others, on the afternoon of the Performing Arts Market.

In between and during the rest of the evening, there will be opportunity to network and get to know or meet many interesting colleagues during table discussions and a relaxed aperitif on the roof terrace.

The Berlin Performing Arts Market is being held very close in time to the Berlin Theatertreffen festival and many other events that are taking place in May in Berlin. With this in mind, anyone looking to stay longer in Berlin beyond the Market and would like to find additional points of contact and networking opportunities with Berlin’s independent performing arts community is welcome to get in touch with us – we are happy to be of service!

Shedule of Event

10:00 am: Arrival & Accreditation with coffee

10:30 am: "Who's here?" – Speedmeeting
With Anna Florin & Florian Hohnhorst (The Berlin Performing Arts Program)

11:00 am: Welcome / Program presentation
With Anna Florin & Florian Hohnhorst (The Berlin Performing Arts Program), Elke Weber (Vorstand LAFT Berlin)

11:30 am: Presentation and exchange of international trade fair formats and networking platforms
With Isa Köhler (internationale tanzmesse nrw), Tine De Pourcq (WIPCOOP/Mestizo Arts Platform, Belgium), Tony Mills (Edinburgh Fringe), Bernward Tuchmann (INTHEGA Theatermarkt), Yves Sheriff (CINARS Montreal), Moderation: Sofie Luckhardt

1:00 pm: Lunch on the roof terrace

2:00 pm: Round of introductions of the partner and networks present
With Bridging the Scenes Festival Network, Festival Friends network, Kreativ Transfer / Dachverband Tanz Deutschland, LAFT Brandenburg

2:30 pm: Presentations and trade fair stands of the artists
With Annalisa Derossi, Dmytro Grynov, Gob Squad, Josephine Hock, Joy Alpuerto Ritter, Juliet Julia*n Meding / ANTISEPT,Christine Bonansea, Markus&Markus Theaterkollektiv, Martha Hincapie Charry, Post Theater, Reza Mirabi, Sounding Situations, The Velvet Creepers, Moderation: Leicy Valenzuela

5:00 pm: Fishbowl – Why trade fair? On the advantages, disadvantages and new possibilities of a familiar format
With Janina Benduski (LAFT Berlin), Isa Köhler (internationale tanzmesse nrw), Tine de pourcq (WIPCOOP/Mestizo Arts Platform, Belgium), Tony Mills (Edinburgh Fringe), Aneta Hladovcová (Malá Inventura Festival), Moderation: Katja Sonnemann

From 6:30 pm: Networking discussions on the roof terrace

Accessibility

Participation in the event is free of charge.

The event will be held in English spoken language.
During the program item "Presentation and exchange of international trade fair formats and networking platforms", whispered translation into German is possible, and questions can also be asked in German. Simultaneous English-German translation will be provided during the fishbowl format in the evening.

Spatial accessibility
The Performing Arts Market takes place at Colonia Nova. The premises of Colonia Nova are located on the 3rd floor and are wheelchair accessible. Two steps in the entrance area are overcome by a mobile ramp. The way to the 3rd floor is by elevator. To access the roof terrace, another step is overcome by a mobile ramp.