The ‘Prospero New European Wave’ (Prospero NEW) Platform project builds on the legacy of the Prospero network. Created in 2006 by 6 theatre structures, Prospero contributes to the artistic and cultural edification of Europe and allows young or confirmed artists to work on European stages and beyond. Later, the group – then consisting of 9 members – developed a streaming platform to facilitate the online circulation of theatre works, which is now widely recognized. After implementing several projects, and as new partners joined (Prospero now counts 19 members) the idea of going a step further and structure the network as a European theatre platform emerged. This platform shall enable the new consortium to scale up its ability to identify talented theatre artists from all over Europe, diversify the forms of support proposed (in accordance with the artists’ needs) as well as its geographical reach. The platform shall also conduct research work, fundamental to create the theatre of tomorrow. To achieve these objectives, it will also draw on its digital platform.
The consortium submitted its application for funding by Creative Europe’s platform program end of January 2024.

The Platform’s consortium will be composed 19 Members: historic Members of the network and newcomers, including theatre festivals (18 countries):

1. Théâtre de Liège (Coordinating Organization) – Belgium, Liège
2. Temporada Alta Festival – Spain, Girona
3. Centro Cultural de Belém – Portugal, Lisbon
4. Ivan Zajc Croatian National Theatre – Croatia, Rijeka
5. Dublin Theatre Festival – Ireland, Dublin
6. Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione – Italy, Modena
7. Göteborg Dance and Theatre Festival (Goteborgs Stadsteater) – Sweden, Gothenburg
8. Avignon Festival – France, Avignon
9. Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre – Ukraine, Kyiv
10. Ivan Vazov National Theatre – Bulgaria, Sofia
11. Kaunas National Drama Theatre – Lithuania, Kaunas
12. National Theatre Prague – Czech Republic, Prague
13. NTGent – Belgium, Ghent
14. Onassis Stegi – Greece, Athens
15. Powszechny Theatre – Poland, Warsaw
16. Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz – Germany, Berlin
17. Sibiu International Theatre Festival – Romania, Sibiu
18. Tbilisi International Theatre Festival – Georgia, Tbilisi
19. Wiener Festwochen – Austria, Vienna

Over 4 years, the main goal of the platform project will be to help theatre artists, especially directors, gain recognition on a European scale or, in other words, emerge at the European level.

This support will be targeted at artists who are known nationally but face challenges (cultural, financial) that hinder their exposure to international audiences.
The project will draw on Members’ experience, intuition and geographical diversity to identify talented artists from all over Europe. Members will then support them in different ways: enable the selected artists to develop their projects via international residencies and mentoring programs; produce their projects; present their works; broadcast online contents documenting their work; provide them visibility and networking opportunities.
Additionally, the project will carry out communication activities with the objective of developing a brand and a label around the platform – that shall respectively provide visibility and recognition to supported artists, in Europe and beyond. Finally, the project will also conduct research activities on sector wide problematics related to the contemporary questions of sustainability and diversity, with the double objective of fostering the dialogue between art and science and empowering the theatre sector by providing a space to reflect on its current situation and possible futures.
In terms of governance, the project aims for tight collaboration among all Members and is committed to implement robust sustainability and diversity measures and to put the working conditions of artists at the center of all its activities.
As such, the platform shall help selected artists to scale up at the European level, enable Members of the platform to Europeanize their activities and programming, and enhance their audience’s engagement with international works.

Expected duration: January 2025- December 2028 (4 years)

Expected outcome
During the four years of the project, Prospero NEW aims to implement at least 150 support activities reaching an estimated number of 332 artists:
– 100 emerging directors will see their project labeled ‘Prospero NEW’, meaning that Members will be able to ask for a financial support from the Platform to host one or several of these projects (minimum 60 touring dates over the duration of the project) – average of 2 emerging artists per labeled play;
– 19 emerging directors will see their project selected to be coproduced by Members of the Platform (1 coproduction per Member) – average of 2 emerging artists per coproduced play;
– 40 emerging artists will be able to attend the Platform’s 4 remunerated mentoring programs, organized in the frame of the Platform’s Annual Event (10 participants per program);
– 38 emerging artists will be given the opportunity to do a paid residency period at the venue of one of the Platform Members;
– A minimum of 16 emerging artists will have the opportunity to broadcast their work on the streaming platform;
+ networking opportunities & visibility for all supported artists.

Expected budget
The project’s budget combines the financial resources of the Members with the support from the EU grant to maximize the overall impact.
– Total Budget (4 years): 4.2M€
– EU Grant: 2.8M€ represent 66% of the total budget.
– Own means investment of the Members (incl. coordinator): 1.4M€
Over 3M € out of the global budget will directly be invested in the support to emerging artists.