A comprehensive mapping of the independent performing arts field, which UP has developed in collaboration with Danish Theatre and the Danish Institute for Cultural Analysis, will begin in early January.
The survey will equip UP and everyone working in the field of project-supported and self-producing performing arts organisations to be able to say something more precise about the independent field's overall contribution to the performing arts in Denmark.
The survey will include a questionnaire, which UP hopes as many professional artists, producers and companies as possible will respond to so that we have valid data to build on.
But the survey will also be based on more qualitative case studies, which UP Development Producer Ann-Jette Caron has already been working on for a few months.
The survey will also be based on more qualitative case studies, which UP Development Producer Ann-Jette Caron has already been working on for a few months.
- is was what UP Development Producer Ann-Jette Caron told ISCENE when they interviewed her about the work involved in developing the survey. Ann-Jette elaborated that:
"I recently heard someone say: ‘The size and importance of the independent field is just guesswork and myths’. We shouldn't be guesswork, so we need to be able to document what the field is. Who are we working with? What is our practice? How are we funded? How much do we produce? How do we produce? It's a lot of knowledge that we can't now find in one place"
This is the motivation for UP and the partners behind the mapping. At the same time, it is important to emphasise that the mapping is not about streamlining the field:
"It's not about pushing anyone into a particular mode of production, way of thinking about practice or a way of being commercial, but about sticking a finger in the ground and doing a mapping that can benefit the field."
- Ann-Jette Caron also tells ISCENE.
Read the full interview at ISCENE here
By answering the questionnaire in January, you will contribute to:
- Qualify future initiatives and create even better offers for the independent performing arts field
- Back up our voice with data that provides insight into some of the complex economic, production and structural conditions that characterise working life in the independent field
- Qualify the conversation about what our greatest strengths and challenges are
- Help sharing insights into practices, production structures and funding conditions for the independent performing arts field across Denmark
At UP, we hope that as many people as possible who work professionally in the independent field and create their own work will take the time to answer the survey.
By answering the questionnaire, you contribute to creating a qualified basis for industry and sector discussions and to support the dialogue with decision-makers about the development and growth of the independent field.
Stay tuned in January when the questionnaire comes out!