CROSS POETRY

CROSS-POETRY: Networking, Mobility, and Professionalization in Performing Arts

CROSS-POETRY is a transnational cultural and educational project that unites poetry theatre, physical theatre, and site-specific performance. The initiative was created to offer young emerging artists (under 35) a concrete bridge between artistic training and the professional market. At the heart of the project is the transformation of cultural and natural heritage into living stages. Historical houses, museums, literary archives, and open landscapes become places of residency and artistic creation, where the younger generations can engage with European literary roots and historical memory. Through an itinerant journey, CROSS-POETRY develops several key activities:Artistic and educational residencies: Intensive international mobility modules focused on voice, spatial dramaturgy, and ritual narration, guided by industry experts. Mentoring and professional placement: Personalized coaching plans to support young artists in developing portfolios and gaining access to live entertainment circuits. Public restitutions and community engagement: Open-air performances open to the public, designed to enhance the host territories and stimulate dialogue between local communities and contemporary art. Creation of open-source tools: The production of European training kits, digital poetry notebooks, and multimedia documentaries to document and share the results of the journey. The Role of the PartnersTo bring this project to life, the partnership brings together complementary organizations, each playing a specific role based on its core expertise:Theatre Companies and Performing Arts Organizations: They lead the artistic and pedagogical direction, guide the physical and poetic theatre workshops, select the participating young artists, and co-produce the site-specific performances. Cultural Heritage Institutions, Museums, and Literary Foundations: They act as the host environments for the itinerant residencies, opening up their historical houses, archives, or natural landscapes as "natural stages" and connecting heritage with contemporary youth performance. Educational Centers, NGOs, and Public Bodies: They support the validation of non-formal learning outcomes, coordinate dissemination and social inclusion strategies, and facilitate institutional engagement with local communities and stakeholders.