The mentoring program is underway!

An important part of SPARSE Plus is the exchange between organizers, artists and the SPARSE Plus partners. Since mid-December, the mentoring program has been running, where all of them get the chance to meet, be inspired and discuss how, based on their circumstances, they can prepare in the best way for the upcoming rural touring within SPARSE Plus.

For local promoters, the web series so far has consisted of two webinars where we talked about the organizer's relationship with the local audiences and choosing performances that are suitable for your audience. Discussions were also focused on who should be included in the selection of the repertoire in the venues. All conversations have been characterized by great openness, curiosity and a desire to learn and share experiences, which has paved the way for fruitful discussions and feedback from the participants has been very positive. During the coming months, we will continue to discuss and prepare for the upcoming SPARSE Plus rural touring.

As for the Artist Webinars, they have so far been open for anyone to sign up for and have consisted of an introduction to rural touring, held by Ralph Lister from Take Art (UK). We have also introduced SPARSE Plus and other Creative Europe projects looking to collaborate across borders for performing arts practitioners in Europe. In the next step, the producers and artists selected for each partner country's menus will have the chance to prepare together with local promoters and get to know each other before the project's first tour.

Here are some of the feedback we have had from local promoters and artists after the webinars:

"Very inspiring to meet people from different parts of Europe dealings with the same needs to reach wide audience in small areas."

"I feel really inspired to start choosing performances and create ideas with the artists, what they would like to bring to our village."

"It is always the best to listen to the experience of others."

"Very interesting and enriching to share thoughts about rural touring and art. Thank you!"

"Looking forward to the next couple of years with rural touring ideas!!!!"

As for the SPARSE Plus Mentoring team, we could not agree more with what has been written in the feedback. We are really looking forward to working with SPARSE Plus for the next couple of years!

SPARSE Plus Mentoring Team

News written by Anna Skoglund and Christopher Almgren from Riksteatern Värmland (Sweden)

Year 2023 of SPARSE Plus

The SPARSE Plus project successfully started in February 2023 and will continue until the beginning of 2027.

Here is a look back at the key events of 2023.

In April, managers of each participating cultural organisations met in Vilnius (Lithuania), to discuss and agree on the next stages of the project. Upon returning home, they identified and selected five new villages and five new Local Promoters to participate in the project.

All participants gathered through an online format in June and Local Promoters were introduced to the project.

Following everyone's return from summer vacation, the Kick off Local Promoters Meeting was eagerly planned. It took place in Ascoli Piceno (Marche Region, Italy) from the 2nd to the 6th of October. Hosted by the coordinator AMAT (Associazione Marchigiana Attività Teatrali), around 80 people had the chance to meet physically, to exchange and learn about the rural touring topic. This meeting primarily targeted Local Promoters, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the project and clarifying their roles throughout its duration. They had the opportunity to meet with fellow Local Promoters from all participating countries.

As part of the project's evaluation, Local Promoters gave feedback on their experience. The conclusion was very positive on everyone's part. The meeting was especially useful and it was not just about the work that has to be done in the future, but about getting to know each other, each other’s culture as a creative and fun part.

Post the Kick-off Local Promoters Meeting, the digital mentoring / webinars' serie for Local Promoters and artists interested in rural touring or the SPARSE Plus project commenced on the 12 of December and will continue into the early months of 2024.

Simultaneously, partners have begun planning a "menu launch party", during which performances will be presented to Local Promoters in the form of showcases adapted to touring in rural areas. Each Local Promoter, in his own country, will select performances that will be included in this year's touring menu.

What a year 2023 will be for the project and its participants! The foundations have been laid, 2024 can begin!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more updates on the project.

News written by Apollonia Bilibok from Shoshin Theatre Association (Romania) / © Carlotta Tringali (photo)

RESEARCH & EVALUATION PART OF THE PROJECT

The European SPARSE PLUS project also includes a research component. It is divided into four parts: evaluation, two researches and a follow-up arts advocacy.

The evaluation will be used to assess the success and effectiveness of the project. The aim of the evaluation is to obtain information on the impact and benefits of each part of the project/activity on local promoters, artists and audiences. The evaluation of the project is a key element to improve the effectiveness in future activities. We will draw on the results in ouradvocacy work.

The theme of one of the research is Arts Funding in Rural Areas of Europe. The research project seeks to uncover the current landscape of public funding for the arts in rural areas within the European Union and propose a set of recommendations.

The results of the research will be engaged in an advocacy programme, developing materials and identifying key platforms and agencies that we need to enter into dialogue with (at regional, national and European levels) to disseminate work, the evidence and the importance and relevance of rural touring to the localism and environmental as well as rural agendas.

The research will result in a 50-page document in English, that will be made available online on the project website.

This part of the research will be presented at the Symposium, organized by Nová síť, in Prague and Broumov Monastery in 2025.

The main topic and aim of the second research is now under discussion, but it will be focused on rural areas and will also be published publicly.

News written by Eliška Burdová from Nová síť (Czechia) / cover image: © Nová síť / image below: © Marketa Hrdlička Málková

SPARSE Plus Mentoring Program

SPARSE Plus is a Creative Europe funded project involving 11 partners from 8 countries developing rural touring networks for performing arts companies in their areas.

Welcome to the SPARSE Plus‘ Introduction to Rural Touring for Professional Performing Arts Companies’ Webinar programme.

There will be 3 connected webinars that will give artists knowledge about Rural Touring and how it works!

Webinar 1#: Tuesday 12th December 14-16 CET:

Why do rural touring and what kind of shows work for rural audiences? What is SPARSE Plus?

Webinar 2#: Tuesday 23rd January 14-16 CET:

How does rural touring work – the role of the partner and the local promoter and how to build a relationship with them. Also developing marketing material that reaches and relates to a rural audience.

Webinar 3#: Tuesday 13th February 14-16 CET:

Arriving on the day of the show – a checklist of what to prepare and what to expect.

These webinars are free to attend, register by Friday 1st December (max 100 attendees). The sessions are held in English and captions will be offered where possible in different languages. We will ask you about your artform, which country you are based in and also your language needs when you register for the webinar.

Thank you! We’re looking forward to see you on the screen,

Anna and Christopher,  Riksteatern Värmland
The SPARSE Plus Mentoring Team

Are you an artist or company member interested in this subject? Go to the following link:

https://sparse-plus-introduction-for-artists.confetti.events/

Mentoring Program for local promoters

Following on from the kick-off local promoter meeting, a mentoring program is being organised for local promoters. Six two-hour meetings a year, over three years, to lay the foundations for the rural tour, answer questions and provide a forum for discussion between professionals and passionate amateurs.

© Ewa Janicka-Olejnik (featured image) PERFORM EUROPE project - Performance ROUTINE by Company Zid, presented in Poland (Wałcz Drugi village) 

KICK OFF LOCAL PROMOTER MEETING, SPARSE PLUS GETS OFF TO A FLYING START!

Seventy people from Italy, Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Germany, Sweden, Poland, and England, met from the 2nd to the 6th of October 2023 in Folignano (AP) in the Marche region in Italy.

Four days of exchanges, learning, cultural visits, discovering each other's culture, not forgetting a first approach to "rural touring", which will then be developed during the first series of webinars between November 2023 to February 2024 by the Swedish partner, Riksteatern Värmland.

On the first morning, in order to get to know each other better, all participants were asked to bring items that best represented their country to play the "Table Country Game". This moment of exchange opened the afternoon with more formal presentations of the project by Daniele Sepe from AMAT, Ralph Lister from Take Art and Anna Skoglund from Riksteatern Värmland. In the evening, local promoters and partners had the pleasure to see a cello performance by Maestro Alessandro Culiani.

On the second day, the group took part to a World Café. Divided into five groups, local promoters had the opportunity to exchange with artists, promoters, and partners from SPARSE 1 through five thematic tables: "What kind of artist are we looking for? How do we find the audience? What do we expect from the artist and what the artist expects from local promoters? Planning the event – how to work backwards from the show day? How do we use the media to reach the audience?".

The group then headed to one of the local villages involved in SPARSE Plus, Montalto delle Marche. After a cultural visit, a presentation of the project Metroborgo Montalto Lab with national funding to support and develop Italian rural areas by the Mayor Daniel Matricardi, the group assisted to a performance by La Macina!

During the following day, the Collective 7-8 Chili created a medidation workshop for all the participants, ending with the planting of the SPARSE PLUS tree at the Aula Verde of Castel Trosino. After this workshop, the group made pizzas which is part of Italy's cultural heritage.

"Everything always starts with a burning fire. Then the embers calm down and become ashes, to nourish the earth and make it fertile. Only a suitable location and prepared soil can accommodate a tree and allow it to grow. To enjoy its fruits, it needs consistency, care, water, and light. Let's never lose sight of the fact that what will be fruit tomorrow is a fire burning today". (extract from the workshop with 7-8 Chili).

Here are some quotes from the "SPARSE PLUS Guest book":

A precious gift the meeting and sharing of ideas and emotions. Thank you” – Monica from Italy

I am so happy to see that so many people love music, dance, theatre and to have fun. Long live Sparse 2” – Angelica from Sweden

What a gift to be among such wonderful passionate people in such an incredibly beautiful place! So excited to embark on this journey together.” – Dori from Hungary

These moments of sharing have been beautiful and so precious, thank you for making them possible! See you soon!” – Chiara from Italy

The feedbacks are positive, as the photos and survey prove it! It is a great start to the SPARSE Plus project, which will be completed in early 2027.

To know more about the project, local promoters, villages, events, and rural touring, follow us on our social medias: Instagram and Facebook.

© Raido Bergstein (featured image)

The new website of the Sparse Plus project is finally online! 

Welcome to the new website of the European project SPARSE PLUS!

Here, you will find all the updates regarding the project, activities, and the key players of this journey that will end in 2026. The new website will provide more room for news, but it will also include sections dedicated to local promoters, artists, communities, and the locations of the vast rural network under construction. 

Follow us on social media as well: FB @sparseu and IG @sparseproject.

FIRST WEBINAR FOR THE LOCAL PROMOTERS… WHO ARE THEY?

On June 15th, the first webinar dedicated to local promoters took place on Zoom. There were 64 participants from all countries involved in the project for a day of training. The discussion focused on the experiences gained during the first edition of SPARSE, starting from the viewing of the film (watch it here) and the meeting that the project leader will host in October, with the aim of delving into all organizational aspects of the rural touring system.

But who is the local promoter and what role does he/she play within the SPARSE project?

They are people who live in the selected communities and who have an active role within them. 

We have granular detail on who is a typical local promoter. For example, in Italy almost all live in the villages involved in the project or not far away, some work within the municipal administration, others lead associations that deal with municipal public spaces, while others organize amateur events in their locality. 

The Italian local promoter average age varies from 28 to 60 and mostly women. 

In Estonia promoters are mostly women ages 35 to 57; only two men active as local promoters. Most work in different positions in local government cultural houses and connect SPARSE also to other organizers outside cultural houses in their community. A small number of organizers work in the private sector, willing to contribute time and energy to their village´s cultural life. Estonian promoters are well connected with each other so SPARSE information spreads fast. In Romania the local promoter is typically community background. He or she is usually a priest, teacher, or just a local. Sometimes it's an artist who works in the city but lives in the village. In terms of age promoters are usually in their 20s or 40-50s.

Do you want to know more about the new local promoters?

The first in-person project partner meeting in Vilnius: 4 days of intense and wonderful work for the entire team.

From April 28th to May 1st, 2023, the first partner meeting of the project took place in Vilnius.

The project required extensive preparation, which began as early as 2021. Finally, after numerous Zoom meetings, all the individuals who worked for the success of the application came together in person to work concretely on activities, schedules, communication, and reporting.

It's wonderful to see such great collaboration among the partners, who have immediately put their expertise at the service of each other and the project.

During these days of intense work, the group had the precious opportunity to engage in dialogue with two key figures from the first SPARSE project in Lithuania: actor Raimondas Klezys and local promoter Joana Giedraityte. Both of them shared their positive experiences with the project, which represents an opportunity for cultural and social growth for all involved.

In addition to briefly visiting the beautiful city of Vilnius, the partners had the opportunity to watch two performances: 7 Ratai from the Lithuanian Company “No Shoes” and the performance 71 BODIES 1 DANCE from the Norvegian artist Daniel Mariblanca. Indeed, during such occasions, it is essential to share moments of socialization and engage in discussions while experiencing common cultural events.

Goodbye, and see you at the next in-person meeting... in Italy! From October 2nd to 6th, 2023, with the participation of 50 local promoters from all the countries involved. Looking forward to it!

Thanks to Creative Europe, "Sparse plus" is now underway: 11 partners (plus two associated partners) are coming together to support the dissemination of culture in rural areas.

In February 2023, a new adventure began in the name of "Sparse": the project that developed the rural touring model in 4 European countries between 2018 and 2021 is expanding, involving 6 new partners across 4 countries until 2026.

SPARSE plus includes the original SPARSE partners: Associazione Marchigiana Attività Teatrali (Marche, Italy) as Coordinator with Eesti Tantsuagentuur (Estonia), Fish Eye (Lithuania), Shoshin Theatre (Transylvania, Romania), Riksteatern Varmland (Varmland, Sweden); with new partners Pro Progressione (Hungary), SINUM (Hungary), Nova Sit (Czech Republic), Teatro 4Garoupas (Germany), Art Fraction Foundation (Poland) and Fondazione Toscana Spettacolo (Tuscany, Italy).

Building on SPARSE successes, it will expand and deepen the rural touring network, providing access to high quality professional arts events in rural communities. According to EU statistics 30% of Europe’s population live in a rural area, access to services is worse and social exclusion is higher in rural areas.

There will be 150 performances by at least 45 artist companies in 50 rural communities to 7.500 audience members. 20% performances will be cross border and slow travel will mitigate environmental impacts with partners offsetting carbon emissions.

A live and digital mentoring programme will support 50 local rural touring promoters and at least 45 artist companies to learn the essential mechanics of rural touring, including visits to experienced rural touring partners.

There will be 3 key events; a kick-off meeting for 50 promoters and 11 partner staff; a public facing Symposium for 100 delegates (policymakers, funders, cultural associates) and a final Conference will share learning and launch the next 4 year programme for 100 delegates (local promoters, partners, artists, potential new partners and associations).

The best is yet to come... stay connected!

Follow us on our social media channels: on Facebook, find us at @sparseu, and on Instagram, follow @sparseproject for project updates and news.