Description
This project aims to enhance cultural dialogue and strengthen European identity by joining organizers of two important international festivals 4+4 Days in Motion (CZ) and METEOR (NO). They decided to create a joint project (a sub-festival) from the field of professional theatre called Norway Artway, which is going to be presented in the programme of both festivals in 2015. It is a showcase of Czech professional theatre in Norway and Norwegian professional theatre in the Czech Republic. Both Festivals in Prague and Bergen become platforms for presentation of Czech and Norwegian artists. The festivals are decisive and important factors for the possibilities of live art international mobility and help Czech and Norwegian art fight their way to the international art “market”. The project comprises of several forms of outputs using different cultural and political experience in the Czech Republic and Norway: presentations of Czech and Norwegian” emerging” artists and curators (25 artists from Norway; 15 artists from Czech Republic, 7 curators from Norway, 30 curators from the EU), critical seminars, discussions and the international symposium for the general public and media. The Czech Republic is going to host 5 Norwegian art companies and Norway welcomes 3 Czech art companies. The international symposium is going to be attended by 37 foreign curators (7 curators from Norway) of dance, theatre and interdisciplinary festivals and institutions, who have significantly influenced the shape of the progressive, creative and dramaturgic trend in the field of performing arts in the world. Space for dialogue is the key component of the project and because of its transnational nature; the intercultural dialogue will take place on many levels. The project creates an active platform for international cooperation among cultural institutions, art organizations from other European states by means of mobility of artists, creators and other cultural authorities and professionals.
Summary of project results
The project Norway Artway was aimed at the presentation of Czech professional theatre in Norway and Norwegian professional theatre in the Czech Republic through a sub-festival within two international festivals organized by the project partners in Prague and Bergen. The Czech Republic hosted five artistic Norwegians groups: Kristin RYG Helgebostad; Theatre Sjolie Amund Sveen; Mette Edvardsen; Andrea Spreafico and Ingri Fiksdal Stiftelse space at the festival 4+4 Days in Motion in October 2015 in Prague. During the festival the interdisciplinary conference on the topic of Norway Artway National trends in Norwegian culture and art also took place. Three performances of Czech artistic groups were presented in Norway: 420 people, Handa Gote Research Development and Dora Sulženko Hoštová at the Meteor festival in Bergen in November 2015. The accompanying program included the screening of Czech dance films "HamletOphelia" (420 People) and "Learned Helplesness" (VerTeDance). All perfomances were very positively evaluated and appraised by the lay and professional audience. Norway Artway united almost all artistic genres and allowed the Czech and Norwegian artists to be inspired by the space and people with different culture and history. It has also creatively utilized different cultural - political experience of two major European cities and was an impulse for further cooperation for both sides in the field of performing arts in the coming years.
Summary of bilateral results
Norwegian partner - Stiftelsen Bergen Internasjnole Teater (known as BIT) was actively involved throughout the project preparation and implementation. The final beneficiary and partner met at joint sessions and they talked about the program of the sub-festival. Czech side visited two days dramaturgic seminar in Bergen for the final selection of the Norwegian artists who will represent project Norway Artway in the Czech Republic in the very beginning of the project. Then the two days dramaturgic seminar took place in Prague during the Czech Dance Platform (April 2015) for the final selection of the Czech artists who will represent project Norway Artway in Norway. Exchange of experiences with different cultural traditions was mutual and both sides benefited from participation in this project. Since the partners have cooperated well in past years, they believe in successful cooperation in the future.