European Debate and Network Activities / Divadelná Nitra Association
The project EU-DNA (European Debate and Network Activities/Divadelná Nitra Association) was created the basis of the belief that international contacts and relationships are the “genetic” essence of any exchange of views, experiences and inspiration. Therefore, a project was created at the Divadelná Nitra Association (ADN / DNA), which aims to connect Slovak theatre professionals with Europe (EU).
The project is based on the long-term effort of the Association to cross the borders of Slovakia, to develop international contacts, to stimulate the increase of co-production projects and contacts between the Slovak and foreign theatre scene. Mobility and networking are the main tools to ensure these goals.
This project has been successful only since 2016, but so far 51 foreign mobiles have already taken place. 10 theatre critics, dramaturges and cultural managers got an opportunity to travel to theatres and festivals to such countries as Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Romania, Russia, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, France, Poland. In these countries, they have visited significant European institutions and festivals. For example, Golden Mask, Münchner Kammerspiele, Impulse Theatre Festival, Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Wiener Festwochen, Stücke 2017, Trafó House of Contemporary Arts, Small Inventory, Theatertreffen, Latvian Showcase, May Showcase of St. Petersburg Theatre, Divine comedy, and other foreign cultural institutions. In the upcoming years, the project will expand its borders to other countries and create contacts with new theatre destinations, for example, with Greece, Portugal and Spain, with the Balkan and the Nordic countries.
On the one hand, the purpose of the tours is mapping of foreign theatre scenes, mediating information about them to the Slovak public as well as creating new contacts and networking and, on the other hand, mediating the presentation of Slovak theatre production on international forums and theatre stages abroad. That is why one of the project’s priorities is to develop the cooperation with the IETM (International Performing Arts Network).
The project EU DNA was supported using public funding by the Slovak Arts Council, the main project partner.
