Partner insights on the shared stage

As the Theatre in Palm (TIP) project draws to a close, partners from across Europe have taken a moment to reflect on the path they’ve walked together over the past three years (2022-2025). What emerges is a textured portrait of collaboration, experimentation, and learning—one shaped by local realities, yet unified by shared goals.

Project partners

• Turku University of Applied Sciences
• Intercult, Sweden
• Fondazione E35 per la progettazione internazionale, Italy
• Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality, Ireland
• ESPRONCEDA/LEMONGRASS COMMUNICATION, Spain
• JÁIT – international theatre, Portugal
• Stichting ZID, Netherlands
• CUBE, Greece
• European Theatre and Film Institute, Belgium
• THOC Cyprus Theatre Organisation, Cyprus
• Homemade Culture, Romania
• Oecon Group, Bulgaria

A network of support for emerging artists

Across all partners, the central mission of the project was clear: support emerging artists. Whether through digital residencies, live performances, or local workshops, partners worked to build spaces where new voices could develop and be heard. There was strong consensus that the heart of TIP lay in empowering artists with tools, networks, and opportunities for meaningful expression and job opportunities.

This collective journey has not only deepened artistic practice but strengthened a Europe-wide commitment to making space for the next generation of theatre-makers.

Investing in new talent was not just a project goal, but a long-term responsibility.

This commitment expressed itself in different ways. Some focused on creating open, inclusive platforms for experimentation. Others built networks for mentoring, technical guidance, or artistic collaboration. For many, the most vital element was ensuring artists had the freedom – and support – to explore both personal expression and urgent societal themes. Across all reflections, it was clear that investing in new talent was not just a project goal, but a long-term responsibility.

The value of collaboration – and its complexities

European collaboration was a defining strength of the project. For many partners, working across borders was not just enriching but essential to the project’s impact. Several highlighted how TIP helped them develop not only new partnerships but also their own capacity for international cooperation. It reinforced that cross-cultural theatre collaboration does work—but also that it takes time, trust, and structure. For some, TIP offered the chance to return to long-standing collaborative values; for others, it meant discovering new ways to build trust and cooperation across cultures and disciplines.

Often, moments of success came not from scale but from impact – when artists reported feeling truly seen, supported, and encouraged to continue growing beyond the project itself.

At the same time, the journey came with its challenges. Some partners, particularly those newer to European projects, experienced a steep learning curve in managing international operations. Others emphasized the importance of clearer communication and the need to adapt digital tools more effectively. These were not seen as setbacks, but as valuable lessons in how to make transnational collaboration more inclusive and effective. Several partners also mentioned that it takes quite a lot of time and effort to move from shared vision to shared implementation. There were practical lessons, too – around communication, coordination, and the creative use of digital tools. These were not seen as obstacles, but as important insights for making future collaboration more effective and equitable.

Highlights and defining moments

The project’s strength lay in its range. From immersive residencies and touring roadshows to intimate residencies and theatre labs, TIP’s many formats allowed for deep artistic exploration and wide-reaching exchange. Many partners recalled particular events that crystallized the project’s aims – whether through emotional resonance, creative experimentation, or unexpectedly strong audience connection.

TIP was described as the beginning of something larger – an ecosystem that, while initiated through the project, will outlive it.

Some events brought together artists across multiple disciplines to explore topics like identity, sustainability, and justice. Others focused on creating platforms for artists to present work developed during residencies. And often, moments of success came not from scale but from impact – when artists reported feeling truly seen, supported, and encouraged to continue growing beyond the project itself.

A lasting impact that will carry into the future

Partners repeatedly emphasized that TIP’s real legacy lies not just in what was produced, but in the relationships and structures now in place. Stronger networks, improved local visibility for emerging artists, and new methods of collaboration were among the most frequently cited outcomes. Some described TIP as the beginning of something larger—an ecosystem that, while initiated through the project, will outlive it. Many described how the project helped shape new ways of thinking about support structures for emerging theatre artists. Others spoke of finding renewed purpose in their role as facilitators and collaborators.

There was a shared recognition that this work is ongoing. Supporting emerging artists, especially across borders, requires continued effort and adaptability. As one partner put it, “the work is just beginning.”

TIP may be drawing to a close, but its influence continues to ripple outward—through the artists who participated, the communities engaged, and the bonds forged across theatres, studios, and countries. In the end, this collective journey has not only deepened artistic practice but strengthened a Europe-wide commitment to making space for the next generation of theatre-makers.

This text was created with the assistance of ChatGPT based on material provided by the project partners. Content was checked, edited and finalised by project´s communications advisor.