ISLAND CONNECT is a collaborative program between seven performing arts organizations, working with residencies located on (or associated with) European islands of different countries. United in the project by a common interest in contributing to the creation and consolidation of performing arts, the network partners of the international exchange residency program wish to address an important ambition. The project aims to support the artists and arts companies in their personal and professional development within the project’s framework and therefore is launching these open calls.
Island Connect II (2024–2026) is a further evolution of the project, funded by Creative Europe, and will announce three open calls per year of the three-year project. All artists wishing to participate will be asked to critically engage with the themes of insularity, islander identities, or island socio-political realities in a wider European context, comparing the similarities and difficulties that emerge from diverse island regions of the project. Working on something related to these themes is a vital part of participating in the project. Artists are not required to have an existing project in development, and new proposals are equally welcome. Artists are encouraged to interact with the island area and community. Artists’ work-in-progress presentations are organized at the end of each residency, and presentations of finished works of selected artistic companies can be performed at partners’ festivals. All presentations are followed by an artist-audience feedback session. The objective is to provide the artists with a much-needed space for research and free experimentation, and time for reflecting and posing questions. At the same time, partners’ artistic directors may provide them with specialized feedback and dramaturgical advice. This is facilitated through fully funded residencies for each of the artistic companies.
