Meditative Dance

EUROPEAN OFF NETWORK (EON) was created during the meetings organized by the IETM as a European network of independent theatre companies and artists. Starting off from those meetings, the network has developed autonomously on the basis of the significantly high number of companies which joined it: more than eight hundred theatre, dance and performing arts companies from Europe and beyond, saw an opportunity for creating an international network which could represent the common problems and needs of the fringe theatre and of independent artists.

The main objectives of the network are: making sure a number of opportunities for international exchange and debate are created, increasing visibility and the circulation of works and creating an international structure advocating in favor of independent arts. This structure, perfectly in line with EU standards, effectively works as a network and is based on a thorough knowledge and understanding of theatres’ background and of the countries involved.

The coordination of the network is historically entrusted to the FREIE THEATER, an organization based in Vienna which, thanks to its national activities, works in close contact with theatres and Austrian companies. The Freie Theater, by working on fundraising, legislative developments for the sector and the promotion of the sector, it also practically represents a link between the theatres and the institutions.

FREIE THEATER directly fundraised and provided the necessary know-how to organize the last EON meeting which took place in St. Pölten (Austria) two years ago. More than 200 companies (from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, England, Poland, Spain, Romania, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Greece, Israel, Yugoslavia, Lebanon, Palestine, Kosovo, Finland, Bulgaria, Ireland, Canada, Island, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Sweden and Slovenia) took part to the event.

The organisation and coordination of the network relies nationally on the work of a key person (usually a company) coming from each involved country. This key person is responsible for the territorial development of the network.

Following Austria (2004), EON organized its second large meeting in Brescia, Italy in year 2007 under the coordination of Teatro Inverso and Scarlettine Theatre. The meeting, which brought together more than 300 artists, cultural operators and various performers, was a huge success. European artists coming from 30 countries of Europe and neighboring states shared their experiences and knowledge, and with the artistic workshops, they found the opportunity to develop artistic cooperation and to create something together. During EON 2007, the first Third Space Conference was organized with the contributions of IG Frei Theater.Simya Sanat, having been elected as the Turkish representative of EON Network during 2007 meeting in Italy, is the organizer of the 2010 EON Meeting to be held in Istanbul in scope of European Culture Capital organization.

In addition to administrator meetings, EON activities continued with the 2nd Third Space Conference organized in Vienna in October 2008, under the theme “Theater in Times of War”. During the conference, artists coming from conflict regions as well as those who lately experienced war talked about which artistic platforms they presented their experiences. They discussed the theme of “war” which is reflected in grotesque elements, drama or comedy in theater, stressing on the fact that “war” acted as an anachronistic reality.