THOUGHTS ON COLLABORATION
“When we originally took the initiative to the Festival for the Independent Field of Performing Arts, it was to ensure access to venue-capacity for the Independent Field of Performing Arts – as well as a lot of other good reasons, like creating visibility, nationally as well as internationally, and a context to the works in the form of a festival. Throughout the festival years, which this year runs for the 7th time, it’s been at the top of our wish-list that one or more venues entered in an ongoing, co-producing collaboration. Or in some other way took ownership of the festival. That would mean a concrete anchoring of the festival in the performing arts industry and secure continuity around what venues you can experience the work of the Independent Field. Not only are we talking audience development, the Festival for the Independent Field of Performing Arts could create synergy and influence the artistic development of the theatre. It’s no secret that we still have some big challenges concerning access to venue-capacity for the Independent Field in Copenhagen, but venue-capacity alone doesn’t quite cut it. That’s why we’re very happy to enter into a collaboration with Toaster in Copenhagen and thus the two venues at Husets Teater and Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, and likewise the collaboration with Bora Bora and Open Scene at Godsbanen in Aarhus, and that this collaboration continues for the next festivals in 2024/25. It’s of great importance and very gratifying that our collaboration partners are equally concerned with and committed to the Independent Field, both artistically and in terms of securing venue-capacity for the field, and thereby take co-artistic ownership of the festival – without compromising the independence and autonomy of the festival. In the end this benefits not only the artists of the Independent Field, but also the audience, who will have the opportunity to experience works from the Independent Field.”
– Gritt Uldall-Jessen, Artistic Director at Selected Works together with Erik Pold
“I think on collaborations in two ways. One is a given. In our sector, the performing arts, we all work really hard with building our audiences, building trust and visibility. We all struggle with finding the right words to transmit our importance. Most of us are very clear about our own urgency. But how to explain it? In a neat package? All these questions make us islands. We, in this industry, tend to work really hard to make our islands livable and attractive, so that we tend to be a bit self-absorbed (to be a bit diplomatic). Collaborations is the one thing where we connect with others on our own terms. A good collaboration has a common goal. It makes us see ourselves in others. It connects the islands. And the benefits are we feel less alone. But also, that we can share trusts. The institutions have built trust to their audience and this trust is doubled. Or in this case tripled.
The second way of looking at collaborations is a bit more complex. A collaboration can create a new island. If we work together towards a common goal. Our efforts will make us see things, new things in our own institutions. And with the right intent and investments new possibilities emerge.
This is why collaboration is of such importance. Simply put. It is an effective way to share each other’s audiences. But also it is the perfect way to think new thought. And we desperately need new thoughts. New strategies.
Even simpler put. One plus on is two. And sometimes three.”
– Danjel Andersson, Director and Artistic Lead, Dansehallerne
