Inadequate funding schemes, short-term solutions, short-lived productions – how should the dance sector be developed? Experts from the cultural field in the Nordic and Baltic countries formed a think tank in order to discuss and debate better operating models for the dance field in the region. The notion of sustainability proved to be a useful tool in finding solutions.
The current structures support mainly new artistic creations. We live in a culture of disposable dance productions – new works get performed only a few times before they disappear. Instead, there is a rush to premiere yet another new piece. It’s a waste of resources. There is no support for a wider distribution or touring of companies, comments Sanna Rekola, the director of Dance Info Finland, who participated in the Think Tank.
– The dance sector, like any art form, can be seen as an ecosystem: investing resources to an appropriate place or at a right time can have major effects and consequences in other parts of the society. Sustainability in the dance field needs a holistic approach, understanding the entire value chain and the life cycle of artistic work.
The Nordic and Baltic keðja Sustainability Think Tank decided to create and publish their recommendations for a sustainable dance field. The Think Tank provides concrete suggestions for sustainable strategies. It would be easy to merely demand for more money but sustainability needs smarter ways of investing in dance and more effective use of funds that are already there.
The dance field does not exist in isolation. A sustainable dance sector has a long-lasting and wide-reaching impact on society as it can provide valuable insights in tackling pressing social issues. This takes time – results that are immediately visible are seldom compatible with sustainable processes. A better communication of favourable spill-over effects and the intrinsic values of dance as an art form are needed to reach larger audience awareness and political attention in general.
New forms of development structures built within the creative industries, like hubs, clusters and incubators, could create new opportunities also for the dance sector. It is important that there are communities of artists and other intermediary professionals that possess knowledge of culture, art, and business.
The dance field in the Nordic and Baltic region has become internationally focused. More emphasis could be put on sustainable mobility. When performing abroad a company could give workshops and provide audience outreach activities. The keðja Sustainability Think Tank also suggests that funding for touring in the region will be included in the Nordic-Baltic Mobility programme.
Funding mechanisms need to be diverse and flexible in order to be sustainable. It is important that the funding lines correspond to life cycle thinking. In an ideal system there is funding available for different phases of artistic work or an artist’s career.
The keðja Sustainability Think Tank invites all countries to create a new strategy or to update an existing one for a sustainable dance field that best meets their country specific needs.
The Think Tank focused on a contemporary dance context and a certain region, but the results apply globally to the arts field. The working group wants to share these recommendations with all cultural fields in Europe and beyond.
http://www.danceinfo.fi/news/news/towards-a-sustainable-dance-field/