Open call for performing arts groups

The idea behind the project

The project is based on the philosophy of universal design, derived from architecture. It means designing products, environments, programs and services to be useful to everyone, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

We aim to create a model that brings this philosophy to the performing arts, opening up new creative possibilities and enriching the audience experience. We believe that accessibility can spur innovative solutions, inspiring those involved in the arts to seek new means of expression and create a more open creative space for all.

Project Partners:

Project partners are: Provincial Center for Cultural Animation in Torun (Poland), Teatro Stabile del Veneto (Italy) and Kulturanova (Serbia).

Purpose of the project

The aim of the project is to engage 36 young people from Poland, Serbia and Italy working in the performing arts (up to 35 years of age), including people with disabilities and belonging to marginalized groups, in the creation of new artistic tools developing a model of universal design in the creation of performances and theatrical performances.

We are looking for people for whom social justice, equality and diversity are important values and who want to develop their competence in anti-discrimination practices in the arts and universal design.

For whom.

We invite artistic groups consisting of independent performing arts practitioners (up to 35 years old) living in Poland, Serbia or Italy, in which more than half of the group is made up of people with disabilities or from marginalized groups in the country.

By performing arts we mean theater, dance and movement, excluding musical ensembles.

By independent artistic persons, we mean those who are not permanently employed in cultural institutions in artistic roles (e.g., as actors).

We invite groups who want to develop their competence in inclusive arts, who are interested in the themes of equality, social justice and inclusivity in the arts, and those who already have experience in creating performing arts to join the project.

Benefits for project participants/participants in Poland

• An international nine-day art camp in Poland, introducing the idea of inclusive art and universal design
• A month-long artistic residency in Toruń at the headquarters of the Provincial Center for Cultural Animation
• Support by mentors and tutors – with knowledge of theater, performing arts, anti-discrimination education and universal design
• Presentation of selected performances at the theater festival in Padua (Italy)
• Remuneration and production budget: 5,000 PLN gross for a month-long residency for each person from the artistic collective and 6,000 PLN gross for the implementation of the project.
• Opportunity for international collaboration and exchange of experiences with performing arts practitioners of diverse perspectives

Stages of the project

Individuals participating in the Universal Art Design project pledge to participate in all stages of the project, throughout its duration.

1. International art camp in Torun (June 4-12, 2025)

• Nine-day workshops for art groups from Poland, Serbia and Italy led by expert speakers from the three countries
• Training in inclusive art making, universal design and anti-discrimination
• Integration of people from diverse art groups

2. Artist residencies (July 2025 – November 2025)

• Work on art project concepts in Novi Sad, Serbia (July 8-11, 2025) – one person from each art group qualified for the project is invited to participate
• A month-long artistic residency in Toruń, culminating in a show of the author’s performance or spectacle
• Support (tutoring) in the creative process
• Opportunity to use universal design techniques in performance art

3. Padua theater festival (February 2026)

• Presentation of selected performances and performances prepared as part of the residency
• Discussions, panels and workshops for the audience
• Accompanying events – exhibitions, multimedia presentations
• Meetings with people working in cultural institutions, people involved in art and issues of inclusivity

How to apply?

1. Fill out the application form available HERE
2. Attachment:
   • A short bio of everyone in the group and a description of your artistic experience and motivation for participating
   • A description of the concept that you as a group would like to develop as part of the residency. You can provide it in text or audio/video form.
3. Application deadline: April 17, 2025 by 10:00 am.
4. Based on the submissions, a three-member jury from Poland will preselect the entries. Subsequently, the submissions selected along this path will be translated into English and an international committee of individuals representing all three project partners will make the final selection of 3 to 6 groups from each country. A total of no less than 36 performing arts professionals will be invited to join the project. The deadline for the final announcement of the results is May 15, 2025.

Criteria for the selection of people who are part of art groups:

• Willingness to participate in the entire project
• Fulfillment of formal requirements (age, citizenship, not being permanently employed in cultural institutions)
• Social sensitivity of the topic and the potential of the idea in the context of universal design
• Willingness to work in an international team

Availability

• Application forms, documents and all information about the project in social media and on the project sub-site will be prepared in accordance with universal design and will be digitally accessible and supplemented with subtitles in Polish, English and also with translation into PJM.
• All project sites will be architecturally accessible.
• Assistance or sign language interpretation will be provided to those who need it during project implementation.

Contact

Do you have questions? Contact us: katarzyna.pagowska@woak.pl/ +48 695 385 110

Would you like to attend an online briefing? Fill out this form and on the day of the meeting, you will receive a link to the Google Meet via email: https://forms.gle/FJyT7PhDobWMSxuw8

Meeting dates:

April 2, 7:00 pm

April 8, 7:00 pm

During the meeting you can ask any question or clarify your doubts about the course of the project or the criteria for participation.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity for artistic development and international collaboration!

Project financing

The Universal Art Design project has received funding from the European Union under the Creative Europe project. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA is responsible for them.

This project has received funding from the Local Government of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship