History & Archive

2014

FACE was created on 10 December 2013 and officially registered as a not-for-profit association under French law on 30 January 2014. The legal seat was originally at the Carreau du Temple complex in Paris, while the Swedish organisation Subtopia assumed the role of secretariat, administrating finances for the first year of FACE's existence. In 2014, the network gathered 40 member organisations from twenty countries and co-organised three meetings for professionals, three European seminars, four workshops, and one exploratory trip, also starting two transnational projects and participating in eight international events. The platform quickly joined On the Move, the international network for information on cultural mobility, to benefit from its expertise and contribute to knowledge sharing among cultural players. Activity report summary 2014

2015

FACE started to administrate its own finances, and, experimenting with alternative business and co-production models for its activities, called upon the services of a number of independent consultants. During this period, FACE continued to focus on socially engaged artistic practices and hybrid contemporary performing arts – including category-defying practices such as contemporary circus, physical and visual theatre, live art, public art, immersive or participatory projects, and site-specific arts. In 2015, the network gathered 47 member organisations from 21 countries and co-organised five meetings for professionals, three European seminars, one workshop, and two exploratory trips outside the EU, also participating in thirteen international events. Activity report summary 2015

2016

FACE continued to adopt a regional approach to the development of its activities, gathering groups of professionals sharing a geographical area (e.g. Republic of Ireland & UK, BeNeLux, the Mediterranean Countries, the Nordic & Baltic Countries, North America) in order to strengthen local dialogue, formal and informal cooperation, and solidarity. In 2016, the network gathered 41 member organisations from twenty countries and co-organised: five meetings for professionals, two European seminars, five workshops, and two exploratory trips outside the EU, participating in eight international events. Activity report summary 2016

2017

FACE moved its legal seat to the organisation Onda - Office national de diffusion artistique in Paris and expanded its areas of interest to include contemporary dance, young audiences, and all forms of non text-based work. At the same time, the board started an evaluation process to assess the work of the platform and the reach of its activities. In 2017, the network gathered 31 member organisations from thirteen countries and co-organised four meetings for professionals, three European workshops and seminars, and two exploratory trips, participating in six international events. Activity report summary 2017

2018

After almost five years of existence, FACE deepened its analysis of the rapidly evolving cultural landscape and the relevance of European networks today in order to review its positioning, activities and services. In 2018, the network gathered twenty member organisations from thirteen countries and co-organised one meeting for professionals, seven European workshops and seminars, and two exploratory trips, participating in five international events. Activity report summary 2018

2019

In 2018-2019, FACE led its (r)evolution – transforming from a classic network of arts organisations to a resource platform supporting the development of culture professionals. Members suggested an “année blanche”, a year without the usual activities proposed, in order to take the time to review its focuses and fields/types of intervention in order to reposition it in today’s European cultural landscape, assess its activities and develop its sustainability. FACE continued to deliver some activities, especially the ones the network already committed to towards different partners. The international association contributed to several capacity building programmes focusing on the internationalization of professional practices, on initiating formal and informal transnational collaboration. Finally, taking on board the first outcomes of the thorough analysis led during the “année blanche”, FACE joined forces with colleague European organisations to develop an Erasmus+ “strategic partnership” project. Activity report summary 2019

2020

The 2019 “année blanche” brought positive energy and exciting new perspectives. The organisation gradually developed new orientations to build on past and current partnerships: to adopt a new collaborative model; to create activities that are relevant at the time and stop duplicating work programmes from one year to the next; to focus on building the capacities of individual workers and cultural organisations to grow and work internationally; to continue to prepare the ground for transnational cooperation, etc. However, 2020 has been marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and the disastrous and long-term impacts on many people’s lives. The performing arts sector has been deeply affected, and its international dimension with networking, touring, collaborations and residencies brutally froze. In this situation, FACE tried to follow-up with this new positioning but had difficulties to translate these new orientations in such context. Many activities had to be delayed and/or postponed during the year even if new partnerships could be forged. Activity report summary 2020

2021

The year 2021 has been again marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and the disastrous and long-term impacts on many people’s lives. The performing arts sector continued to be deeply affected, and its international dimension with networking, training, touring, collaborations and residencies had to face multiple restrictions and obstacles. Because of the situation, many cultural activities had to be postponed, adapted and organised online. But 2021 has also been a busy year with the implementation of SHIFT and Learning Trajectories, that were both highly relevant for the organisation, for the culture field and its arts professionals. From different perspectives, both aim at equipping individual and organisations with new knowledge and competences to tackle important professional and societal issues. Activity report summary 2021

2022

In 2022, FACE dedicated efforts to finalise the SHIFT project and implement the Learning Trajectories initiative, both addressing key issues in the performing arts sector. The resource platform actively participated in European networks and international conferences, renewing dialogue on pre-pandemic practices. Major accomplishments include the completion of the SHIFT project, focusing on cultural leadership, environmental sustainability, gender relations, and inclusion. Additionally, the Learning Trajectories project explored professional development programmes in the arts and published guidance on designing them, preparing support documentation and preparing mobility experiences. FACE engaged in On the Move network activities and contributed to discussions on (en)forced mobility, context-based green mobility, and international capacity building. It also joined the Creative Pact for Skills, fostering collaboration and skills development in the cultural sector. Facing a dynamic cultural landscape, FACE anticipates continued involvement in European cooperation projects in 2023. Activity report summary 2022

 

Legal seat: Onda – 13 bis, rue Henry Monnier – 75009 Paris – France
info@fresh-europe.org