The project’ activities
A call for applications was published in April 2022 ; over 500 emerging artists with experience working with communities and a research-based approach, and who wanted to find and develop new narratives for European stages applied. The 15 artists that were selected represented a strong cohort with an acute sensitivity to the socio-cultural issues of diversity and inclusion.
To guide them and increase the capacity building further, each artist was allocated a project coach to support them in their research.
A launch event (the first of the 3 events uniting all participants) took place in Liège in October 2022 to allow for all participants to meet and start the project.
43 residencies, lasting two weeks each, took place between October 2022 and October 2024. The beginning of the residencies marked the start of the core of the project and was an intense, challenging, yet very rewarding and productive time for the participants. The first result of the residencies were quickly seen: new connections were sought, contacts were made, and many new relationships were forged. Some of the paths did not yield the desired results, demonstrating the importance of sufficient time and adequate support when engaging with communities.
The host institutions were able to learn from the strongly socio-cultural and participatory research methods artists used for the Future Laboratory. They realised what infrastructure and special resources were necessary if artistic research was to enable theatre-makers to tap into previously unreached areas. Working with local mentors, as well as translators or cultural intermediaries also proved to be very valuable.
At the same time, it became evident that institutions needed to devote as much time and attention as possible to the process of the Future Laboratory to create a welcoming atmosphere, a safe space and an open environment in addition to their day-to-day business.
At the halfway event in Milan in November 2023, it became clear that the aim to establish safe spaces and conversations on equal footing was central regarding the artists’ projects, but also in the collaboration between artists and institutions. Some work habits (such as quick, informal agreements) had been adopted from the regular day-to-day practices of the institutions. The fact that these were not appropriate in the context of the project only became apparent when challenges surfaced and insecurities among the participants arose. After the Milan event, a number of those structural difficulties were addressed.
The project’s final event in Luxembourg in November 2024 was planned in close cooperation with representatives of the institutions and artists in a co-creation spirit. It offered each artist the opportunity to share the outcomes of their research in the format that suited them best, discuss their work and learn from each other.
The first year demonstrated that the communication channels put in place were not effective and flexible enough. This was addressed by including artists in organisational matters, reacting more flexibly to needs, recruiting an artist liaison manager as well as external counsellors on wellbeing and by increasing internal communication channels such as a monthly newsletter including updates on artists and institutions.
The issues revealed provide invaluable learning about the importance of artistic research and how it could be even more strongly anchored in theatres. It also highlighted the need for institutions to stay flexible to evolve and adapt and be ready to question a status quo that may not be appropriate for innovative projects.
Finally, the various participants were invited to take part in the Casebook, “Future Laboratory: Artistic Research in Theatre” published in February 2025 in collaboration with the European Theatre Convention. The Casebook gave some insight and recommendations for supporting artists, their research and working with underserved and underrepresented communities.
The project’s achievement
Each partner hosted 3 or 4 different artists to explore, investigate and research origins of disengagement and make proposals on how to improve their connections with underrepresented communities. Those were able to express themselves and be heard in places where they are often invisible. As some communities were involved in end of residency sharing moments (Open Labs), they got their first sense of participating in the activities of an institution.
The findings from the research have the potential to transform the position of each partner institution in their cities as they have become aware of new narratives and established connections with new communities that they can now be built on and develop further.
The artists have been able to develop their network by collaborating with the partner institutions as well as their skills by exploring various perspectives and contexts. They have developed their ability to integrate new organisations and do research in a variety of contexts. With the help of the project coaches, local mentors and hosting institutions, they have sharpened and developed their skills in defining goals, conducting targeted research and formulating a project proposal.
The project opened new possibilities and provided learning for institutions to develop outreach and engagement work and increase social cohesion in their cities. The partners have been inspired to make representation of artists and diversity more of a priority when they commission work. Working with a variety of different artists and communities has also highlighted the necessity of care, responsibility and well-being at work.
The consortium has been strengthened and enriched by the inclusion of artists on the executive board. The intense collaboration between the consortium throughout the project facilitated the sharing of experiences and best practice in the support of emerging artists over a long period of time as well as fast track existing relationships and international cooperation.
Some research projects are now being developed into full productions, allowing the artists to present their projects and make sure that the new narratives they have helped identify can be shared more widely.
The cooperation and the learnings, published in the Future Laboratory Casebook, have also allowed the partner institutions to enter in conversation with new partners and to imagine a new chapter of cooperation so that the Future Laboratory and its objectives might become a reference in research practice and social inclusion the European Performing Arts sector.