Produced by Absolutely Cultured in partnership with Arts Council England and British Council

28 - 31 March 2019

On 28 March, Absolutely Cultured, IETM and partners Arts Council England and the British Council welcomed the international performing arts community to Hull as it hosts IETM Hull 2019.

The exciting programme of talks, discussions, workshops and performances explored the subject of inclusion, showcasing the diverse practice of local, regional and national artists and celebrating international collaboration and cooperation. This timely programme gave the national and international arts community an insight into what is special about the contemporary performing arts sector across Hull, the north of England and wider UK.

IETM is a membership organisation for contemporary performing arts, with more than 500 members from over 50 countries. With a mission to advocate for the value of the arts and culture in a changing world, IETM holds two plenary meetings each year in different European cities. Hull was the first UK city to host a plenary since 2010.

Keynote speakers included Sade Brown, an award-winning social entrepreneur and founder of Sour Lemons, which addresses the lack of diversity in leadership within the creative, cultural and social sectors, and British theatre-maker and comedian Jess Thom, founder of Touretteshero.

The artistic programme showcased award-winning local artists including the latest play by Middle Child, Us Against Whatever, while Silent Uproar performed its 2017 hit play, A Super Happy Story About Feeling Super Sad. Internationally renowned Candoco Dance Company, a company of disabled and non-disabled dancers performed for the first time in the city, offering audiences a profound and boundary-pushing experience in its latest double bill, Face In by Yasmeen Godder and Let’s Talk About Dis by Hetain Patel. No Kids was the latest energetic, hilarious, moving and thought-provoking play from the multi-award-winning Bristol-based company, Ad Infinitum, while in Fat Blokes, Scottee uncovered why fat men are never sexy but are always funny in a hilarious dance show of sorts.

For more information about IETM, visit ITEM’s website.

With the support of Creative Europe, Flanders State of the Art, Hull City Council, Visit Britain

I produced IETM Plenary Meeting Hull on behalf of Absolutely Cultured .