i-Portunus

i-Portunus is a project, selected and funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union. It supports short-term mobility of artists and culture professionals.

News

i-Portunus was a short-term pilot project, selected and funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, to trial a mobility scheme in 41 countries directly targeting individual artists and culture professionals (A&CP) active in the Performing or Visual Arts. i-Portunus was managed by a Consortium headed by Goethe-Institut with Institut français, Izolyatsia and Nida Art Colony of Vilnius Academy of Arts.

Between April and September 2019, i-Portunus issued 3 Calls for Applications and received over 2.500 applications from more than 3.000 individuals requesting over 6.000.000 euros of support, hence proving the need for artistic mobility. A team of eight independent experts evaluated the applications. 337 individual A&CP were supported for demand-led opportunities for an amount of 620.933 euros. As a result of the mobility 97% of the selected A&CP acquired new skills/knowledge, 94% developed new audiences/outlets, 94% developed new co-productions/creations, and 49% received a job offer. This is a most impressive impact considering the limited financial support provided by the EU, e.g. only 1.500 to 3,400 euros per individual.

The i-Portunus mobility scheme for artists and culture professionals (A&CP) is at the end of its first piloting phase. During this time, we have tested various aspects of the mobility scheme, both in line with the conclusions of this project’s Analytical Report as well as variations and new ideas, developed in response to needs that became apparent during the pilot. We strongly recommend that the reader refers to this Analytical Report, which contains highly relevant and important information presented with a great wealth of detail, and which also addresses financial and political aspects of the mobility scheme for A&CP, as well as policy recommendations.

The Policy Recommendations are based on the Analytical Report but are supplemented with key findings from the pilot experimentation, as well as consultations with a broad range of stakeholders including a workshop organised in Brussels on 15 and 16 October 2019.

Update on Brexit

The UK participates in i-Portunus as long as it participates in the Creative Europe Programme.

i-Portunus Stories

This art experience constitutes an immersive ritual, a deep healing process for the artists, and the audience as well. Together, they dive into unknown territories and shake their certitudes to open more their “enclosed garden”, what poets, artists, thinkers from Middle Age would call “Hortus conclusus”, the close chamber of the psychology. I personally discovered as a project manager that it’s not easy to invite artists to open up about intimacy. No matter the country where you would come from, it’s in the end challenging for every woman.” – Celia Stroom

Celia Stroom, Salomé Jashi and Benedetta Barzini

I had the chance to use new materials and techniques, it was very important and constructive for my work. I managed to finish set design, props, masks and costumes during the period of 5 weeks. This wouldn’t have happened without the i-Portunus support.

Maria Siaviki

Our performance piece in Kiel reached many people that have never experienced live art or dance and it was the first time the museum has worked on such a durational live work. We have received much praise for our piece by museum staff and visitors. We already had initial contact for possible presentation of our piece in 2020 and after our showing the theatre places have confirmed.

Jasiek Mischke

Some key data from the third i-Portunus call