ArtsCross International Network: The cosmopolitan presence in transcultural performance practices

The ArtsCross International Network (AIN) proposes to investigate developments in performance practices that reflect changing geo-political and cultural realities, specifically the growing importance of 'East Asia' in the global arena. The Network will work in partnership with arts organisations to observe the development of works for public performance: 10 experimental works as part of the TaipeIDEA Festival, new physical theatre works by the Beijing Dance Academy (BDA) Company, a new work by spell#7 theatre company for the Singapore Arts Festival, an English National Opera production directed and choreographed by Carolyn Choa (from Hong Kong, currently resident in London) with designer Tim Yip, (from Hong Kong, currently resident in Beijing); and a series of experimental works as part of a new Summerhouse programme at The Place, London. The network will also work with Step Out Arts, a new arts agency designed to promote the work of British artists of East Asian descent.

The premise is that an increasingly cosmopolitan perspective is necessary, in order to destabilise past perceptions of an irretrievable difference epitomised by the term 'east-west divide'. In the performing arts this is often seen as tradition (East), versus modernity (West). In contrast, AIN wishes to explore the emergence of multiple modernities as evidenced in arts practices and performances, which the Network proposes represents events in a larger sphere. The skylines of Shanghai and Beijing are testament to the new realities.

AIN will develop a forum for exchange and dissemination, including seminars and conferences, discussions for arts audiences in performance venues and interested members of the general public, as well as demonstrations of practical performance work accompanied by academic discussion and artist/academic exchange. In addition, public web forums will be a window into AIN's work. This range is designed to reach as wide an audience as possible and to promote 'real world' applications for research. By working with arts partners the network will draw on expertise in engaging the public, utilising venues which are accessible and familiar as well as helping arts organisations to extend their audiences. Furthermore the project will develop relationships with cross-cultural practitioners in which they are actively involved rather than simply the subjects of research. This will also shift the position of the academic observer in the rehearsal room or auditorium from one of disinterest to that of reflexive participation. The use of the internet will also be key to the network, both as an effective means of communication, documentation and dissemination; and in order to minimise the ecological impact of travel.

The dedicated website will allow access to the research to members of the public, as well as providing secure areas for academic exchange prior to publication. In addition it will be designed to be a resource and means of contact for individual researchers and for enquiries about the network. The case studies are designed to create a 'real-world' context for the network and to demonstrate the synergies between academia and other sectors. Whilst each case project contributes to a structure for the development of this AHRC-funded network, each is autonomous, in that each is externally funded and occurs within a public rather than an academic, critical economy.

The public seminars and conferences accompanying each case study will include educators and cultural policy makers who will debate the ramifications of the project and the requirements an increasingly globalised, intercultural and cosmopolitan world place on education and cultural policy. The findings of the research will be presented in academic and non-academic journals, seminars, conferences and an edited book will be produced after the two year period of the case studies: performance programmes will also give details of the research network and website access.

Impact beyond the academic sector is embedded in this proposal and is achieved through: working with artists, arts partners and audiences; involving education and cultural policy makers; brokering the partnership between China, Taiwan and the UK (cultural diplomacy, UK policy goals); using open web forums to engage the wider public, providing resources to support UK UG courses enhancing the internationalisation of UK education.

AIN is designed to facilitate international exchange between academics, artists, arts organisations and their publics; as well as stimulating international policy debates in education and culture. Given the current relatively low profile of such relations within theatre, dance and performance studies in the UK, despite changing geopolitical conditions, there is a real imperative to develop dialogue and achieve outcomes in UG teaching, research, performance and cultural policy terms as well as raising public awareness.

AIN achieves synergy through significant new partnerships with national and international arts organisations and artists, and policy-makers. The network brings together, for the first time, two leading arts institutions in China and Taiwan, enabling new dialogues to develop through both informal exchange and the intensive workshops accompanying the case studies. That these channels are opened in the pragmatic arenas of the rehearsal room and the stage means that new languages, which negotiate and respect cultural difference are intrinsic to the project as a result. The brokering of a 'licensed space' for artist, academic and institutional exchange is deemed significant as evidenced by discussion meetings with e.g. China's Ministry of Culture (Deputy Minister and Director of Western Europe Office); China Performing Arts Agency; Taiwan's UK Cultural Division and the Bureau for International Cultural and Education Relations (Director). In the UK, AIN assists the further development of the relatively new organisation, Step Out Arts, whose mission is to promote the visibility and development of British artists of East Asian descent. AIN participates therefore in enhancing the profile of arts and artists of an ethnic minority, traditionally considered to be under-represented, or even invisible, in British culture. AIN also facilitates a wider demographic engagement for organisations such as English National Opera and The Place.
A close working relationship has been fostered with the British Council whose commitment to intercultural dialogue (ref: letter of support) indicates that AIN's proposed activities address broader UK policy initiatives. Impact will be spread widely through the national/international partner organisations as they are located across a range of scales of funding and production. This not only reaches a range of audiences, but also enhances policy debates concerning the imperatives and perceived benefits of differing structures and national/international funding strategies for the performing arts.
Dissemination to a wider public via performance, and live and web-hosted discussion forums allows the research to achieve wide awareness. Recent changes in the political and economic climate in which the arts in Britain find themselves make this project timely and poised to contribute to a discussion of how aesthetic practice not only reflects such shifts, but also participates within them. Communications between artists, and between artists and their audience are a necessary factor in this. The role of the arts as a public undertaking means that the audience must be included and engaged in any discussion of the nature of this participation. As a result, AIN will utilise public performances, post-performance feedback/discussion, and web-based discussion fora as means of ensuring the research enters the 'real world' beyond its immediate confines.