2024: Successful collaborations: Dialogue meeting on co-productions
Danish Theatre and the Development Platform are jointly hosting a dialogue meeting where producers from the independent field and producers and administrative managers from the theatre houses can share experiences and wishes for the good co-production.
2024: Webinar on the good co-production agreement with Mikkel Søndergaard Kryger
Co-productions between established theatres and self-producing companies are a win-win for the performing arts - but how do you ensure a good agreement between the theatre and the producing company?
2024: Write & Relax
If you work freelance as a self-producing theatre artist or producer, you're probably used to being fully or partially funded through grant applications. Sitting through application processes can feel a bit lonely and stressful. That's why we at UP offer Write & Relax.
2023: Food for Thought at Kulturmødet Mors
Food for Thought is a curated, philosophical dinner concept developed by UP, where we offer a presentation by an expert on a theme to get the discussion going. As part of a larger collaboration between the Bikuben Foundation, Haut, the Development Platform for Performing Arts and Art Hub Copenhagen, we presented Food for Thought at Kulturmødet Mors 2023.
2022: Food for Thought on Performing Arts and Futurism
Food for Thought is a curated, philosophical dinner concept developed by UP, where we offer a presentation by an expert on a theme to get the discussion going. On a windy autumn day in October, the Development Platform for Performing Arts held the first event under the Food for Thought concept.
2022: An international symposium for industry professionals in collaboration between Toaster and UP.
We focus on the many gifts and challenges that lie in the International: What are the pressing issues and new directions? How do we promote diversity and fair collaborations? Where do you belong as an artist? Can you be international locally?
Working group on better working conditions for independent performing artists
UP has facilitated a working group across industry organisations that has shared knowledge about the working conditions and needs of the independent performing arts field. This includes discussions and studies of possible models that can strengthen working conditions in the choreographic field and the independent performing arts field in general. The working group consists of: De Frie Koreografer, Brancherådet for Scenedans, Uafhængige Scenekunstnere, Performing Arts Platform Aarhus and UP.
2022 - 2023: International projects on sustainable performing arts
In collaboration with Julie's Bicycle, Arts Council England and UP, in 2022 the Danish Arts Foundation invited international projects on sustainable performing arts. The projects aimed to help performing arts organisations in England and Denmark work together to develop sustainable and innovative approaches to international touring, collaboration and co-production. The development programme built on Arts Council England and Julie's Bicycle's ‘Accelerator Programme’; an education, leadership, exchange and mentoring programme that helps cultural organisations advance their sustainable practice.
2022: CINARS
In collaboration with the Danish Arts Foundation and CINARS, UP organised the four-day seminar ‘Issues and strategies of international touring’ in June 2022 with representatives from CINARS. The seminar was also attended by the 13 Danish companies selected by the Danish Arts Foundation to participate in CINARS in 2022.
2021 - 2022: Theatre Seminar
In 2021 and 2022, UP, with support from the Danish Arts Foundation, prepared 10 artists and groups to pitch and promote their performances at the Danish Theatre Associations' annual Theatre Seminar. In addition to covering participation fees and accommodation, the project also provided access to a preparatory and qualifying programme leading up to the Theatre Seminar with a full-day workshop aimed at equipping the participants in the best possible way to pitch and promote their performances.
2021: Digital Presence
In 2021, the ‘Digital Presence’ initiative focused on digital communication of performing arts. In collaboration with CPH STAGE, we trained the selected Danish showcase participants at CPH STAGE International Days 2021 to act in a digital - or hybrid - international showcase context. With two workshops in digital showcasing, the participants' creative skills were enhanced to best capture the artistic essence of their works in digital presentations.
2020 - 2022: Covid-19
The Covid-19 crisis brought a number of new and major challenges for the performing arts in Denmark, not least for many actors in the independent field. In close collaboration with the Performing Arts Platform, UP prepared an overview of aid packages and provided guidance in consultation with a lawyer. In connection with the first Covid-19 lockdown in spring 2020, UP formed a ‘TASK FORCE’ for the independent field in collaboration with a number of performing arts organisations and freelance artists. The group held monthly meetings to discuss the current needs and challenges of the independent performing arts during Covid-19. UP was also in ongoing dialogue with the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces to create an understanding of the situation of independent performing artists during the Covid-19 crisis and thus helped create a basis for fair agreements between artists/producers and organisers.
2018: Tanzmesse
In 2018, UP organised a three-part effort leading up to, during and after the international sales platform Tanzmesse in Düsseldorf. The aim was to maximise the benefits of the fair for the approximately 20 Danish participants. The programme consisted of a preparatory workshop with training in pitching and networking, a large Danish reception at the fair itself and a follow-up event focusing on retaining and developing the participants' newly acquired networks and knowledge. The intention was to repeat the initiative in connection with Tanzmesse 2020, but unfortunately the fair was cancelled due to Covid-19.
2018 - 2022: The Free Fields Festival
UP and Det Frie Felts Festival have collaborated on several different initiatives during the festival, most recently in 2022 with the industry seminar ‘The Free Field in the Nordics’.
2018 - 2021: Applaus
Applaus was started as an audience development project that aimed to make audience development an integral part of the Danish performing arts' work, goals and strategy. The project was started by and anchored at UP in 2018 with a three-year grant from the Ministry of Culture. In 2021, Applaus became an independent institution.
2017 - 2020: Shared office space on Otto Busses Vej
From 2017 to 2020, UP ran a large shared office space for actors in the independent performing arts. At Otto Busses Vej 5A in Copenhagen, UP created a physical centre for project-based performing arts in Denmark. A place for independent performing arts organisations in need of office space, meeting facilities, mutual inspiration and networking. Over 30 actors had their daily work in the shared office space, which included permanent office space, meeting rooms, an open workspace, storage rooms, etc. Due to rent increases, we unfortunately had to terminate the lease in 2020.